Work Packages
WP1: Development of standard platforms, reference surfaces and measurement methods
Develop and produce materials that will be used as reference materials within the JRP and for an inter-laboratory comparison. Establish accurate, traceable and comparable methods to determine the amount of biomolecular probe immobilised at planar and nanoparticle interfaces.
In WP1 a silane-based protocol for functionalization of silicon oxides and a protocol for the thiol-gold system have been developed. XPS measurements of epoxy-silane modified glass silicon surfaces and PEG-thiol modified gold surfaces are complete.
WP2: Investigation into the sensitivity of emerging techniques to biomolecular structure
Use innovative approaches to determine the orientation and structure of biomolecules at an interface, and develop useful measurement approaches for the research, development and quality control of biomolecular interfaces in diagnostic devices.
In WP2 the design of the UHV compatible liquid cells has been finalised.
WP3: Measuring the attachment of targets to reference surfaces
Develop novel approaches for the measurement of biointerfacial structure that can be correlated with activity and binding efficiency. Develop methods to measure and predict the activity of immobilised probes, by measuring the activity of diagnostic surfaces, quantifying and modeling the interaction between probes and targets. Develop validated numerical tools, based on Poisson-Boltzmann and Molecular Dynamics models, for the analysis of the binding mechanism between target and probe molecules
In WP3, a software plan of the physical model to be implemented in the numerical code for the biomolecular simulation software, focusing on PB and MD models has been created.
WP4: Novel Microscopic and mass spectrometry methods for identifying and measuring target binding
Assess and evaluate the capabilities of new, emerging techniques and approaches to biomolecular sensing which enable multiplexed and label-free identification and quantification of bound targets.
In WP4 biotin-avidin has been selected as the probe-target pair for future experiments.
WP5: Creating Impact
BioSurf will provide guides, standards and protocols for the quantitative analysis of biomolecular interfaces relevant to the needs of diagnostic device manufacturers.
