Professor O'Neill's Biosensors & Electrochemistry Laboratory at UCD focuses on the design, characterisation and application of microelectrochemical devices for analysis in complex media.  Our principle target has been monitoring neuromodulatory substances, such as glucose, glutamate and vitamin C, in the living brain. The combination of computer-controlled data acquisition and enzyme-based polymer-modified biosensors has revealed new insights into chemical balance in extracellular fluids.

An example of a recently engineered biosensor for targeting brain neurotransmitter glutamate involved immobilising glutamate oxidase (GluOx) in a polymer/protein (PPD/BSA) composite film synthesised in situ on lipid (PEA) coated Pt microcylinders. Studies with these probes include basic thermodynamic, kinetic and stability investigations, as well as analytical applications in complex systems such as brain tissue where blocking of interference molecules, such as AA, is critical.

Projects include:

  • An electrochemical system for long-term, real-time monitoring of dopamine neurotransmission in discrete brain regions (RFP, Science Foundation Ireland)
  • New Technologies for Monitoring Cell Signalling in the Living Brain: Design, characterisation and in-vivo application to study extracellular glutamate, energy metabolism and their relationship (Programme Grant, Science Foundation Ireland)
  • Real-time simultaneous monitoring in vivo of glutamate and H2O2 in brain tissue, using a novel implantable polymer-enzyme composite device (Health Research Board)
  • New polymer composite materials for nano-engineered surfaces with applications in sensor design (BRG, Science Foundation Ireland)
  • Microdialysis analyser systems for monitoring neurochemical dynamics in the intact brain: facilitating the application of biosensors for real-time clinical monitoring (Health Research Board)
  • Glutamate, glucose and hydrogen peroxide selective electrodes
  • Electrosynthesis of permselective polymers.

 

The Biosensors & Electrochemistry Laboratory is a founding member of the

NeuroAnalytical Chemistry Laboratories: www.NACLgroup.org