| Summary: | 博士 === 國立清華大學 === 工程與系統科學系 === 105 === Biomedical engineering has bridged the gap between technology and conventional medicine by application of engineering skills in surgical, diagnostic and concoction based medicine. The effectiveness of medical treatment at present lies in the rapid and accurate detection of a disease; not only by its symptoms or epidemiology but by many systematic approaches in vitro, ex-vivo and even in-vivo. Nanotechnology is providing solutions to the current bottlenecks in research applications in the field of imaging agents, fluorescence sensors, biocompatible devices for in vivo applications, etc. In order to push the as synthesized nanomaterials for real life applications focusing on applications based on disease monitoring and alleviation of symptoms, a broad study was conducted to study their competence.
BSA-stabilized metal nanoclusters have been widely used as imaging agents as well as fluorescence sensors. Generally, the complex 3D structures of protein template are known to withstand a wider range of pH changes compared to organic-monolayer-protected Au NCs. The concentration dependent fluorescence quenching of BSA-Au NCs in the presence of rifampicin allows for the sensitive detection of rifampicin in a range from 0.5-823 µg/mL. The BSA-Au NCs were immobilized on a wax-printed paper-based platform and used to conduct real-time monitoring of rifampicin in urine. The paper-based assay can be further used for the detection of other specific analytes via surface modification of the BSA in BSA-Au NCs and offers a useful tool for monitoring other diseases.
Moving on from disease monitoring techniques, we hoped to further develop material suitable for in vivo implantations. As neurological disorders affect and debilitate the normal brain function in about 6% of the total population globally. The possibilities for brain electrodes implants are endless but would need comprehensive study upon the effects of stimulation in various regions of the brain, requiring development of neural interfaces capable of high recording sensitivity, low impedance, specific charge injection capacity and long-term stability. So, in another study, tosylate doped PEDOT materials have been utilized to grow primary cultured hippocampal neurons directly from neonatal rat/mice brain, obtained via newborn litters of C57BL/6 mice and SD rats maintained in our lab. Though direct electro-stimulation studies were not performed, the advantages PEDOT: tosylate possess over other PEDOT composites proves this material could provide an option for developing neural prosthetics and implantable devices for in vivo disease model studies.
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