(114g) Graphene Nanoplatelet Composite for Robust Protein Detection

Direct detection of pathogens and toxins can provide more creditable information for making health decisions.  However, we currently have few direct detection methods that can quickly and rapidly provide meaningful information.  Current point of care and rapid test devices have changed the treatment of many infectious diseases, but the positive-negative readings with a relative low sensitivity needs improvement.  We have created an electrochemical graphene sensor that can produce concentration information quickly with minimal equipment.  It was created from a graphene nanoplatelets composite.  This makes the sensor easy to construct and reduces the variability found from other forms of graphene.  The composite has been tailored to create a more sensitive biosensor and we have found that a graphene/cellulose sensor most fit our selection criteria.  The sensor is robust and can detect protein concentration in a variety of pH and ionic strength environments.  It can be re-used without the need for complicated washing protocols.  The composite sensor can also be functionalized to create a specific sensor when other proteins are present.  The sensitivity of the current functionalized sensor is in the low nanomolar range and we continue to improve the device construction to lower this even more.  This work will describe the current state of this unique graphene composite sensor and describe some of the potential uses for such a handheld electrochemical sensor.