Study visit at Zurich ETH

Dr Steven Linfield visited the laboratories of Dr. Nako Nakatsuka at Zurich ETH in Zurich. The purpose of the visit was to gain knowledge on modifying the surface of gold microelectrodes with aptamers for the detection of dopamine. These specific electrode modifications have potential applications in studying the influence of electrochemical apparatus on the measurement of high-frequency currents.

The optical reporting process developed during the PD2PI project has demonstrated insensitivity to apparatus-related influences, which could facilitate high-speed dopamine monitoring.

During the research visit, Dr Steven Linfield acquired skills in preparing aptamer samples received from manufacturers, covalently bonding them to gold surfaces, and cleaning and maintaining these surfaces. Additionally, he learned the method of staining DNA with fluorescent molecules to confirm the successful surface modification.

The visit proved highly informative for the objectives planned towards the conclusion of the PD2PI project. It also provided an opportunity to engage with PhD students working on biosensors utilizing nanopipettes, leading to insightful discussions.

Dates

10 - 12 December, 2023

Location:

Zurich, Switzerland