CURRENT RESEARCH PROGRAMS

A lab-on-a-chip microsystem for cytotoxicity tests

• Head: Prof. Artur Dybko
• Financial status: National Center for Research
• End of the project: April 2014
• Description: The main aim of the project is to design and fabricate a microsystem based on glass and PDMS for cytotoxicity tests. The system will be equipped with a microheater and temperature control circuit. Various cell cultures will be examined using the designed microsystem. The microchambers for the cells will be etched in a glass plate wheras microchannels will be fabricated in a PDMS plate. The microchannels will create a concentration gradient generator for dosing various concentrations of drugs.
  

Multisensor tools for process control in bioreactors

• Head: Dr. Patrycja Ciosek
• Financial status: National Center for Research
• End of the project: December 2013
• Description: The aim of the project is the development of multisensor tools (so-called electronic tongue) as sensor arrays composed of electrochemical detectors, coupled with signal analysis block, which will be applied to the monitoring of bioreactor processes. The realization of the project will demand the development of chemical sensors devoted to demanded working conditions (measurements of small volumes of (bio)samples in flow mode) and specific applications. The planned applications embrace the monitoring of fermentation processes (for industry control and environment protection) and cell growth in microbioreactors (for medical diagnostics and cytotoxity tests).
  

PAST RESEARCH PROGRAMS

Miniature electrochemical sensors for ion monitoring

• Head: Prof. Zbigniew Brzozka
• Financial status: State Committee for Scientific Research
• End of the project: 31 August 1999
• Description: the aim of the project is to design sensors based on the use of semiconductor transducer for flow-cell measurements. Selectivity, lifetime and measuring properties of the ion sensors will be determined during the experiments. Special flow-cell set-up will be designed and the work of the whole system will be governed by a personal computer. This project is running with the collaboration of Institute of Electron Technology (Poland), Twente University (The Netherlands) and University of Michigan (USA).

Detecting system for fiber optic sensors

• Head: Dr Artur Dybko
• Financial status: Rector's grant - Photonics Engineering
• End of the project: 31 May 1999
• Description: the aim of the project is to create a versatile measuring system for test of fiber optic sensors, especially chemical ones. The system is based on the use of an array spectrophotometer (PC-1000, Ocean Optics). Special application was developed in the LabVIEW environment. It is possible to determine spectral properties of the chemooptical interface used in the sensor and next switch into sensor measurements at the analytical wavelength. The data obtained are displayed on the computer screen and saved into the disc. The system can be utilised as a detector for multisensor probe or sensor network.

Optical detector for capillary electrophoresis

• Head: Dr Artur Dybko
• Financial status: Rector's grant
• End of the project: 31 May 1999
• Description: optical detector systems are widely used in capillary electrophoresis. Usually ordinary spectrophotometers are applied which increases the total cost of the equipment. Sometimes a tailored system is required, especially where one type of the analysis is performed. The idea of the designed system is based on the construction of fiber optic sensors. A light emitting diode is used as a light source and a silicone photodiodes as detectors. One photodiode measures analytical signal and the second gives a reference signal. Quite high signal to noise ratio is obtained by application of selective active filter.

Ion-selective membranes for CHEMFETs

• Head: Prof. Zbigniew Brzozka
• Financial status: State Committee for Scientific Research
• End of the project: December 2000
• Description: The aim of the project is to optimise the composition of ion selective membranes for application in FET based chemical sensors. The membrane selectivity depends not only on the properties of used ionophore but also on the electroactive additives and polymer matrix materials. The membranes with different reciprocal ratios of all those components are being tested by measuring CHEMFETs performances (selectivity, sensitivity, response time, signal drift etc.). Optimised sensors will be used for ions (Na +, K+, NH4+, Ca2+, NO 3-, H2PO4-) monitoring in various natural samples.

Design and simulation of microsystems for environmental monitoring (MISMOS)

• Head: Prof. Andrzej Filipkowski
• Financial status: State Committee for Scientific Research
• End of the project: March 2001
• Description: Modern measuring systems are based on the use of many information channels. The information can be obtained from various types of the sensors including chemical sensors which utilise ion sensitive field effect transistor (ISFET). The project is focused on the investigation of the ISFETs as a source of the signal. There will be developed a computer model of the sensor with influence of its chemical and physical interferences. Based on these results a microsystem for environment monitoring will be designed.

Selectivity of metal-Schiff base complexes

• Head: Prof. Zbigniew Brzozka
• Financial status: Rector's Grant
• End of the project: May 2001
• Description: The aim of the project is to synthesize and evaluate the selectivity and durability of some new ionophores for ion-selective electrodes. The common part of all investigated ionophores is the organic skeleton of salophene, which belongs to the group of Schiff bases. Due to presence of three aromatic rings their structure is very convenient for various modifications. Salophenes form stable complexes with Lewis acidic centers e.g. nickel, cobalt and uranyl cations. The selectivity of ionophores will be investigated using potentiometic ion-selective electrodes, and after optimization of the membrane composition would enable construction of durable potentiometric sensors selective for anions.

Prototype of fiber optic pH-meter

• Head: Dr Artur Dybko
• Financial status: Rector's Grant - Photonic Engineering
• End of the project: May 2001
• Description: Fiber optic pH-meter suitable for long term measurement in environmental samples will be designed and constructed. The influence of interfering ions and temperature on the read-outs will be investigated. pH-meter will be especially designed for extremely high and low ranges of pH scale.

Application of optical methods in dental protection

• Head: Dr Artur Dybko
• Financial status: Foundation for Polish Science, Military Medical Academy
• End of the project: June 2001
• Description: Early detection of tooth decay is very important in dental protection. The aim of the project is the design of a system based on fluorescence methods for dental application. Light emitting diodes (blue, green and white) will be used as light sources. The system can also be used for evaluation of the quality of enamel. Laboratory tests will be carried out in co-operation with dr L.Wagner with Military Medical Academy.

Anion-selective polymeric membranes: design, optimization and application

• Head: Dr El¿bieta Malinowska
• Financial status: Maria Sk³odowska Curie - Fund II
• End of the project: June 2002
• Description: The goal of this project is to investigate approaches that utilize chemically selective polymer films as the basis for designing new and analytical useful potentiometric sensors. The project is focused on the development of new sensors that are suitable for detecting anions in complex biological and environmental samples, and also on understanding, at molecular level, what governs the analytical response properties of these devices.

Durable phosphate-selective electrochemical sensors

• Head: Dr Wojciech Wroblewski
• Financial status: State Committee for Scientific Research
• End of the project: July 2002
• Description: The aim of this project is the design of phosphate-selective electrochemical sensors: ion-selective electrodes and CHEMFETs. Lipophilic uranyl salophenes derivatives will be synthesized and applied as ionophores in phosphate-sensitive polymeric membranes. The influence of the ionophore structure and membrane composition (polarity of the plasticizer, the amount of incorporated ionic sites) on the membrane selectivity and long-term stability will be investigated.

Studies of new chromo- and fluoroionophores and their applications in optical sensors

• Head: Prof. Zbigniew Brzozka
• Financial status: State Committee for Scientific Research
• End of the project: December 2001
• Description: Calixarenes have well defined structures and could be used for design of new chromo- and fluoroionophores via lower and upper rims modifications. The aim of the project is to investigate selectivities of cation complexation by two groups of calixarene derivatives: amide derivatives with nitrophenyl, chromophoric group and urea derivatives with immobilized aromatic, conjugated rings as fluorophoric groups. Applicability of investigated compounds for preparation of selective membrane optrodes will have been verified based on plasticized poly(vinyl chloride). (support of Ewa Rozniecka's Ph.D. work)

Studies of selected metallocomplexes as hydrophilic anion receptors

• Head: Prof. Zbigniew Brzozka
• Financial status: State Committee for Scientific Research
• End of the project: June 2002
• Description: The aim of the project is the development of new receptors for some hydrophilic anions, for which there are no efficient methods of determination. In nature, ions like phosphates or sulphates are recognized by the network of hydrogen and coordinating bonds. In our project we are planning to utilize the unique coordinating properties of some metal ions, like transition metal ions: Ni, Co, Zn, Mn, etc. and the uranyl ion in combination with the organic ligand. The purpose of the ligand in the metalocomplex is to supply a well-defined coordinatively unsaturated recognition site with partial positive charge. Due to the unsaturation of such a metalocomplex it can recognize the electron-rich entities, like anions. (support of Kamil Wojciechowski's Ph.D. work)

Microsystems for multicomponent analysis

• Head: Prof. Zbigniew Brzozka
• Financial status: State Committee for Scientific Research
• End of the project: December 2002
• Description: The aim of the project is a careful investigation of basic physicochemical phenomena taking place in micro- and nanovolumes. The microdevices (micropumps, microcolumns, microvalves and microdetectors) will be produced in IC technology and integrated in portable analytical systems for various samples analysis. In the project there are two parallel ways of mTAS development provided: analysis of gaseous samples (prototype of a gas microchromatogrph on the silicone wafer) and liquid samples analysis (integrated microsystem for capilary electrophoresis with optical detection; multisensor microsystem for various ion monitoring).

Microsensors for water classification mTAS structures based on polymeric support

• Head: Prof. Zbigniew Brzozka
• Financial status: Rector of Warsaw University of Technology
• End of the project: May 2003
• Description: The project consists of two independet parts. First part is focused on the development of a system based on new type of potentiometric sensors for evaluation of spring water quality. The sensors will be designed in a flow-type configuration. Second part of the project deals with polymeric microstructures made of PDMS for application in micro Total Analysis Systems (mTAS). There are microchannels engraved by means of a laser in PMDS plates and having covered the plate with a plain one a microstructure is formed.

Lab on a chip technology based on polymeric materials

• Head: Dr Artur Dybko
• Financial status: Rector of Warsaw University of Technology
• End of the project: December 2003
• Description: Three groups are involved in the project: 1) the group headed by Prof. T.Palko with Department of Mechatronics, 2) the group headed by Prof. R.Beck with Department of Electronics and Information Technology and 3) the group headed by Prof. Z Brzozka with Faculty of Chemistry. The aim of the project is to develop modules for measurements of pH and pO2 in physiological fluidic. The structures will be manufactured in a form of polymeric modules with microchannels formed with the use of thick photoresist SU8.

System for European Water monitorING (SEWING)

• Head: Prof. Andrzej Filipkowski
• Financial status: EU - 5th Framework
• End of the project: August 2004
• Description: The deficit of clean water is becoming a serious problem in Europe. There is a need to develop easily accessible, cheap and reliable microsystems for water pollution monitoring and early warning, which could be used broadly in most water resources on our continent. The equipment available so far is mostly of laboratory type and measures water samples inserted to the measuring device. The objective of this proposal is to create a system of continuous water pollution monitoring in real time. Small and cheap smart sensors will be elaborated, which when inserted in many places of surface and underground water will collect data about pollution. ISFETs will be used as sensors. On the same chip data processing, coding, storing and transmitting circuits will be inserted. This project will create flexible and user specific microsystems. Design methods and prototypes according to needs will be realised and used by institutions of water management.

Microanalyser for physiological applications

• Head: Dr Artur Dybko
• Financial status: State Committee for Scientific Research
• End of the project: August 2005
• Description: PDMS structures will be used as basic materials for development of microfluidic systems. The electroosmotic flow will be tested in the microstructures using high voltage power supply. Optical and electrochemical detectors will be integrated in the structures. It is planned to utilise optical fibres in a microstructure to detect effects of electrophoresis. The technological part of the project is focused on the optimisation of the PDMS surface activation by oxygen plasma as well as optimisation of technology of thick photoresist.

Fiber optic system for water quality assessment

• Head: Dr Artur Dybko
• Financial status: State Committee for Scientific Research
• End of the project: June 2006
• Description: three optical sensors will be developed in flow through configuration: pH, calcium, and a sensor for total concentration of heavy metals in water. The sensors will be based on LEDs as light source and a silicon photodiode as a detector. The work of the systems will be tested in laboratory and environmental samples.

Peptide mapping in lab on a chip systems

• Head: Dr Michal Chudy
• Financial status: State Committee for Scientific Research
• End of the project: August 2008
• Description: Various microstructures will be designed for peptide mapping. The analysis will be based on microelectrophoresis.

Miniaturized electronic tongue fabricated on ceramic support

• Head: prof. Wojciech Wróblewski
• Financial status: State Committee for Scientific Research
• End of the project: September 2008
• Description: The aim of the project is to construct the miniaturized electronic tongue based on potentiometric sensor array employing planar, miniaturized ion-selective electrodes fabricated in LTCC technology. The LTCC technology will enable the manufacturing of a few dozens of transducers on the ceramic support. Each of the transducers (planar Au or Ag electrodes), fabricated by screen-printing technology, will be placed on a ceramic cavity of custom-designed shape, providing appropriate positioning of the ion-selective membranes, high mechanical durability and long-term stability. The development of a complete electrochemical cell in the sensor array of electronic tongue will demand also the design of a planar reference electrode fabricated on ceramic support. The developed electronic tongue will be applied for the classification and quality control of liquid samples, e.g. foodstuffs.

WAter Risk Management in EuRope - WARMER

• Head: Luca Sanfilippo, System Technology Advance SpA (SYSTEA), Anagni, Italy. luca.sanfilippo@systea.it
• Financial status: EU - 6th Framework
• End of the project: 31.08.2009
• Description: WARMER's general objective is to create a real-time water quality monitoring system for environmental risk management, integrating mixed technologies in the area of semiconductors, analytical chemistry, physics of liquids, micro-mechanical fluidic systems, remote sensing and ICT technology. This new type of water quality monitoring system will create an intelligent device comprising of chemical and biological miniaturised sensors for different pollutants in water. The system will be ready to be followed by industrial production and widely used i n water pollution monitoring all over Europe, would help to create water-risk maps for large areas.

Azacrown ethers as ionophores in Permeation Liquid Membranes

• Head: Dr Kamil Wojciechowski
• Financial status: Rector's Grant
• End of the project: December 2008
• Description: The main aim of the project is to study the role of azacrown ethers in the transport of Cu(II) ions through the hydrophobic membranes (permeation liquid membranes, PLM). For this purpose both interfacial and bulk properties of bare and alkylated azacrown ethers will be investigated. Adsorption at PLM membrane-aqueous interface will be studied using model interfaces: solid-liquid and liquid-liquid. Structure of azacrown ether-copper(II) complex in the bulk of the membrane will be studied using spectroscopic methods.

Structural studies of monolayers adsorbed at liquid-liquid interfaces

• Head: Dr Kamil Wojciechowski
• Financial status: Ministry of Science and Higher Education
• End of the project: December 2010
• Description: The project is related to the activity of COST D43 action "Colloid and Interface Chemistry for Nanotechnology". It aims at: 1) understanding the mechanisms of charging of liquid-liquid interfaces due to adsorption of ionic surfactants, 2) exploring the possibilities of utilizing the interfacial electrical potentials (electrokinetic potential, streaming potential, surface potential) for construction of novel potentiometric sensors, 3) studying mechanism and applications of transport of copper(II) ions through miniaturized Permeation Liquid Membranes (PLM).

Molecular recognition at the membrane-liquid interface

• Head: Dr Kamil Wojciechowski
• Financial status: Rector's grant
• End of the project: December 2010
• Description: Molecular recognition at interfaces constitutes one of the crucial steps in the transfer of species between different liquid phases. This is especially important in the systems involving surface-active components, e.g. alkylated azacrown ethers. The project aims at studying mechanism of molecular recognition at model liquid-liquid interfaces mimicking a membrane-aqueous solution interface in Permeation Liquid Membranes (PLM). The interfacial reactions involve adsorption, hydrogen bonding as well as metal ion coordination to adsorbed monolayer composed of alkylated azacrown ether and fatty acids, as used in PLM for transport of Cu(II) between two aqueous compartments separated by a hydrophobic membrane.

Mechanism of electrical potential difference generation at the interface between an ion-selective-membrane and an aqueous phase in the presence of tetraalkylammonium salts

• Head: Dr Kamil Wojciechowski
• Financial status: Ministry of Science and Higher Education
• End of the project: December 2010
• Description: The main aim of the project is to study the role of the surface potential in the generation of electrical potential difference existing at the interface between an aqueous phase and a membrane of ion-selective electrode (ISE). The interfacial phenomena taking place under conditions similar to those in real potentiometric measurement will be studied using interfacial tension and interfacial potential measurements. A special emphasis will be put to the explanation of so called "Hofmeister series" in potentiometry, which determines the order of selectivity of potentiometric sensors containing membranes with only ions exchanger (e.g. tetraalkylammonium salts).

A lab-on-a-chip microsystem with conductometric detection

• Head: Prof. Artur Dybko
• Financial status: Rector's Grant
• End of the project: March 2010
• Description: The main aim of the project is to design and fabricate a microsystem based on a microscopic glass with a new type of conductometric detector. The electrodes for the measurements of conductance will be formed by microchannels filled with a solution of electrolyte

A lab-on-a-chip microsystem for creatinine measurements

• Head: Prof. Artur Dybko
• Financial status: Ministry of Science and Higher Education
• End of the project: August 2011
• Description: The main aim of the project is to design and fabricate a microsystem based on a ceramics and PDMS for creatinine measurements. The system will be equipped with a microheater and optical fiber for spectrometric detection. Laboratory samples as well as clinical samples will be measured
  The results of the project are summarised here