Acquisition of Electrochemical Instrumentation for Biosensor Labs for Chemical and Bioengineering Students

Project Title: Acquisition of Electrochemical Instrumentation for Biosensor Labs for Chemical and Bioengineering Students

Project Lead's Name: Shashi Lalvani

Project Lead's Email: lalvansb@MiamiOH.edu

Project Lead's Phone: 513-529-0763

Project Lead's Division: CEC

Primary Department: College of Engineering and Computing

Other Team Members and their emails: Dr. Lei Kerr, kerrll@MiamiOH.edu

List Departments Benefiting or Affected by this proposal: Chemical, Paper and Biomedical Engineering (CPB)

Estimated Number of Under-Graduate students affected per year (should be number who will actually use solution, not just who is it available to): 300

Estimated Number of Graduate students affected per year (should be number who will actually use solution, not just who is it available to): 8

Describe the problem you are attempting to solve and your approach for solving that problem: The proposed acquisition of electrochemical instrumentation for developing biosensors and analyzing their performance will enhance the academic experience in mandatory undergraduate labs (CPB 318 and 451) as well as in the capstone senior design class. In addition, graduate students (including combined BS/MS students) will greatly benefit from this academic learning experience in CPB 551. In addition, opportunities will be created for undergraduate research students.

The lab will involve creating and testing biosensors for the following applications:

The proposed acquisition of equipment is towards supporting undergraduate labs in CPB. The main purpose of this lab exercise is to empower students to build and analyze biosensors for detection of human illness biomarkers and the identification of hazardous chemical and biological agents. Not only is this project in line with meeting the student learning outcomes as defined by ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) for both, chemical engineering and bioengineering majors at Miami, it also conforms with Miami's priority of student wellness.

Biosensors contain biologically active elements such as an enzyme (also antibodies, nucleic acids, etc.). The enzyme acts on the substance (target molecule) whose concentration is being measured (such as glucose in the blood). The product of the reaction is analyzed using a transducer that generates a signal whose detection and measurement helps quantify the amount of the product (such as hydrogen peroxide during glucose determination step). This quantification is then related to the amount of the target molecule (glucose). Transducers are generally electrochemical, optical, piezoelectric, magnetic or optical in nature.

For glucose determination, electrochemical detectors are found to be most optimal because they have very good sensitivity and reproducibility. In addition, they exhibit linearity and are cost-effective.

The lab developed for students will involve electrochemical and UV- vis detection methods (UV-vis equipment is available in CPB). Experiments will be augmented by the incorporation of nanoparticles and nanotubes which should result in greater sensitivity of detection. The electrochemical detection techniques will involve cyclic voltammetry, amperometry and galvanometry, potentiometry, conductometry and impedance spectroscopy (Electrochemical Biosensors - Sensor Principles and Architecture, D. Grieshaber, R. MacKenzie, J. Voros, E. Reimhult, Sensors, 8(3), 1400-1458, 2008)

While, the experiments in CPB 318 and 451 will involve the detection of glucose and other bioactive agents, senior design projects (CPB 472) will involve the innovative application of biosensors that could lead to wearable devices for continuous glucose monitoring. CPB 318 experiments will emphasize the transport phenomena studies, while those in 451 will focus on the quantitative detection and analysis of the target molecule(s). Seniors will employ nanotechnology techniques for the fabrication of high throughput analysis by employing microfluidic and on-chip applications.

Graduate student lab (CPB 551) and MS thesis research will involve developing biosensors for two sets of applications:

  1. Biomarker identification for cancer detection and assessing cardiovascular risk
  2. Detection of agents hazardous to human health

Further Details on Students Impacted: Estimated Number of Under-Graduate students affected per year (should be number who will actually use solution, not just who is it available to) 300: 300 juniors in CPB 418, 35 seniors in CPB 451, 10-12 seniors in CPB 471 and 472.

Estimated Number of Graduate students affected per year (should be number who will actually use solution, not just who is it available to) 8: CPB 551 (which includes students in the combined BS/MS program), 1-2 MS Research.

How would you describe the innovation and/or the significance of your project: An electrochemical system involving two sets of potentiostat/galvanostat to be acquired will be employed to identify the target molecule. Students will build upon their course of study in general chemistry and transport phenomena courses to build biosensors. The lab experiments are geared to excite students regarding topical chemical and bioengineering problems related to health and safety using cutting-edge engineering and technology. In addition, senior design projects will lead to fostering student creativity and innovativeness. The lab also involves enhancing critical thinking and awareness of important challenges faced by society.

How will you assess the success of the project:

  1. Student and instructor evaluation in CPB 318, 451 and 551.
  2. Partition and evaluation of student projects in the Senior Design Expo.
  3. Student presentations at the Undergraduate Research Forum.
  4. Faculty evaluation of graduate research presentation per CPB established assessment criteria.

Financial Information

Total Amount Requested: $17,000

Budget Details: Two sets of potentiostats/galvanostats with appropriate electrochemical cells and accessories. Possible vendors include:

  • BAS Instruments
  • Gamry Instruments
  • Princeton Applied Research
  • Solartron

One set of equipment will be dedicated to the undergraduate labs (318 and 451) while the other one will be used by students working on capstone design projects, undergraduate research projects, and graduate work.

Is this a multi-year request: No

Please address how, if at all, this project aligns with University,  Divisional, Departmental or Center strategic goals: The motivation for this project is provided by Miami's priority in the area of student wellness. The project aims at achieving the following objectives:

  1. Fostering student critical thinking
  2. Creativity and innovativeness meeting the learning outcomes for seeking ABET accreditation
  3. Increasing awareness of health and safety challenges faced by society