NanoBioelectronics and Biosensors
Group Leader: Arben Merkoçi
Main Research Lines
Catalytic/carrier nanomaterials: nanoparticles as electrocatalysts, nanoparticles as biomolecule carriers, and nanowires/nanotubes for non-enzymatic/enzyme mimic sensors
Nanomicrofluidics and lab-on-a-chip technologies
Paper- and nanopaper-based nanobiosensors
Nanochannels: nanoporous membranes as electrical sensing platforms
Graphene: biosensors based on graphene-related materials
Nanomotors: self-propelled micro/nanomotors for biosensing and other applications
In 2019 the group has continued working on two large ongoing European projects. The first, INTCATCH, is funded under the European H2020 research and innovation framework programme and is dedicated to the design of nanobiosensors for pollutant monitoring. The second, CORE 2, is part of the GRAPHENE FLAGSHIP project and focuses on the development of graphene-based sensors. The group also advanced in its research about paper- and nanopaper-based platforms, as well as about graphene-based platforms of interest for biosensing and other devices fabrication. In January 2019, the group started its participation in another European project, called MICROB-PREDICT “Microbiome-based biomarkers to predict decompensation of liver cirrhosis and treatment response”.
During 2019, three students defended their PhD thesis, developed within the group: Bhawna Nagar, Lorenzo Russo and Mohga Khater.
Group Leader
Arben Merkoçi
ICREA Research Professor
arben.merkoci@icn2.cat
ICREA Research Professor and leader of the ICN2 Nanobioelectronics and Biosensors Group, Arben Merkoçi obtained his PhD at the University of Tirana (Albania) in ion selective electrodes. Since 1992 he has carried out research as postdoctoral fellow and research professor at the Polytechnic University of Budapest (Hungary), University of Ioannina (Greece), Università degli Studi di Padova (Italy), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and New Mexico State University (USA). His research is focused on the integration of biological molecules and other species with micro- and nanostructures of interest in the design of novel (bio)sensors.