Functional Conjugated Polymers: Towards New Materials for Biomedical Applications Seminar
- Time:
- 14:00
- Date:
- 11 June 2014
- Venue:
- Building 27, Room 2003 Chemistry University of Southampton Highfield Southampton SO17 1BJ
For more information regarding this seminar, please email Syma Khalid at S.Khalid@soton.ac.uk .
Event details
Prof Jadranka Travas-Sejdic presents a seminar as part of the Computational Systems Chemistry Seminar series
In this talk I will present two areas of research in my group. Firstly, our work on electrochemical, label-free gene sensors based on conjugated polymers, and secondly on our conductive polymer systems grafted with stimuli responsive polymer brushes.
Poor specificity, low sensitivity, high labour cost and false positive/negative signals are outstanding issues in gene sensing and have propelled the development of new sensing methodologies and devices. To address some of these issues, we are developing a range of gene sensors based on derivatives of conjugated polymers (CPs). These sensors are based on (i) the electrochemical transduction of the hybridization event by the CP thin films measured by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy; (ii) optical readouts based on either FRET (fluorescence resonance energy transfer) or quenching of photoluminescence of conjugated polymers. Electrochemical detection methodologies in particular provide a simple, direct electrical and label-free gene sensing. Devices constructed with single conducting copolymer nanowires, as a label-free oligonucleotide sensors with sensitivities in fM range, will be outlined, as well as our recent work on development of a label free, electrochemical, real time detection of the polymerize chain reaction (PCR).
Grafting polymeric side chains onto conjugated polymers provide a versatile route towards designer conjugated polymers with added functionality, tunability in their opto-electronic properties, processability and responsiveness to stimuli. Our approaches to such materials will be outlined and possible applications in biomedical and bioengineering fields discussed.
Speaker information
Professor Jadranka Travas-Sejdic , 1 Polymer Electronics Research Centre, School of Chemical Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand. Jadranka Travas-Sejdic was born and educated in Croatia. She received her MSc in Zagreb and Ph.D. from University of Auckland, New Zealand in 1999. She worked as a scientist in Genesis Research Corporation Limited and as a scientist and senior project manager in Pacific Lithium Limited, Auckland before returning to the University of Auckland in 2002 where she is currently a Professor at the School of Chemical Sciences and Director of the Polymer Electronic Research Centre (PERC). Travas-Sejdic’s current research is in the field of advanced polymeric materials, particularly those based on conducting polymers, and their application in health and bioelectronics, and polymer electronic devices. The current projects include development of novel gene sensors; conducting polymers-based switchable surfaces and actuators; and development of novel tools for micro- and nano-fabrication and characterization of conducting polymers. She has published over 160 articles in international scientific journals.