We develop a variety of nanomaterial-based bioanalytical systems. We have first started to investigate electrospun nanofibers together with Margaret Frey from the Dept. of Fiber Science at Cornell University and have found them to have many advantageous characteristics. Nanofibers can be created bearing diverse surface chemistries ranging from hydrophilic to hydrophobic or have amphoteric characteristics. They may bear functional groups, are biocompatible, non-fouling, and are capable to present biologically active molecules such as biotin on their surface. The nanofibers provide an immense surface-to-volume ratio and are therefore ideal components for integration into microfluidic devices or for paper-based microfluidics and lateral-flow assays. We investigate nanofibers for separation of analytes, immobilization of biorecognition elements, as detectors and also as mixing components. Much effort has also been spent on the development of conductive nanofibers focusing on laser-induced carbon nanofibers.
Highlights of our most recent research include the development of zwitterionic nanofibers for nucleic acid isolation for point-of-care applications in collaborations with our colleages from Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia, their use for analyte concentration out of breath by integration into medical masks, and their excellent performance as electrode material in flow-through systems such as a lateral-flow assay, in a medical mask for glucose detection; and their development of enzyme-free detection of glucose at physiological pH.
For example:
- Perju, A.T., Baeumner, A.J., Wongkaew, N., “Freestanding 3D-interconnected carbon nanofibers as high-performance transducers in miniaturized electrochemical sensors” Microchimica Acta (2022), 189, 424, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-022-05492-2
- Wongkaew, N., Simsek, M., Griesche, C., Baeumner, A.J. “Functional nanomaterials and nanostructures enhancing biosensors and lab-on-a-chip performances: recent progress, applications and future perspective” (2019) Chemical Reviews, 19(1), 120-194, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemrev.8b00172
- Wongkaew, N., Simsek, M., Arumugam, P., Behrent, A., Berchmans, S. and Baeumner, A.J., “A Robust Strategy Enabling Addressable Porous 3D Carbon-based Functional Nanomaterials in Miniaturized Systems” Nanoscale (2019) 11, 3674 - 3680, https://doi.org/10.1039/C8NR09232J
- Yurova, N., Danchuk, A., Mobarez, S., Wongkaew, N., Rusanova, T., Baeumner, A.J., Duerkop, A. “”Functional Electrospun Nanofibers for Multimodal Sensitive Detection of Biogenic Amines in Food via a Simple Dipstick Assay“ Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, (2018) 410:1111-1121, DOI: 10.1007/s00216-017-0696-9
- Buchner, M., Ngoensawat, U., Schenck, M., Fenzl, C., Wongkaew, N., Matlock-Colangelo, L., Hirsch, T., Duerkop, A., Baeumner, A.J. “Embedded Nanolamps in Electrospun Nanofibers Enabling Online Monitoring and Ratiometric Measurements”, Journal of Materials Chemistry C, 2017, DOI: 10.1039/C7TC03251J
- Matlock-Colangelo, L.E. , Colangelo, N.W., Fenzl, C., Frey, M.W., Baeumner, A.J. “Passive mixing capabilities of Micro- and Nanofibers when used in microfluidic systems” Sensors 2016, 16(8), 1238, DOI: 10.3390/s16081238
- Matlock-Colangelo, L.E., Coon, B., Pitner, C.L., Frey, M.W., Baeumner, A.J. “Functionalized electrospun poly(vinyl alcohol) nanofibers for on-chip concentration of E. coli cells” Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 408(5), 1327-1334 (2016), DOI: 10.1007/s00216-015-9112-5
- Reinholt, S.; Sonnenfeldt, A.; Naik, A.; Frey, M.; Baeumner, A.J “Developing new materials for paper-based diagnostics using electrospun nanofibers” Anal. Bioanal. Chem. vol. 406 (14) pp. 3297-3304 (2014), DOI. 10.1007/s00216-013-7372-5
- Li, D., Frey, F. W., Baeumner, A. J. ”Electrospun polylactic acid nanofiber membranes as substrates for biosensor assemblies” Journal of Membrane Science (2006), 279(1-2), 354-363, DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2005.12.036