Biomedical and environmental sensor technology research projects
The Biomedical & Environmental Sensor Technology (BEST) Centre pioneers portable, high-performance sensors that move molecular and chemical analysis from central laboratories to the point of need. By uniting expertise in chemistry, nanofabrication, electronics and data analytics, we create devices that:
- Detect disease biomarkers in a single drop of blood at rural clinics,
- Safeguard water, soil and air quality for agriculture and environmental stewardship, and
- Provide real-time intelligence for smart transport, energy and manufacturing networks.
Through close partnerships with clinicians, industry and government, we translate laboratory breakthroughs into field-ready products, while training the next generation of sensor scientists and entrepreneurs who will deliver healthier, safer and more sustainable communities.
Current projects
Electrochemical Aptamer-Based Biosensors
Project leader: Dr Saimon Moraes Silva
Collaborators: Associate Professor Wren Greene
Electrochemical Aptamer-Based (E-AB) biosensors are innovative devices leveraging single-stranded nucleic acid aptamers, which, upon binding to specific targets, undergo conformational changes that directly generate a measurable electrochemical signal, holding immense promise for rapid, highly accurate, and sensitive detection across diverse applications. This technology offers transformative potential in healthcare, enabling rapid and precise disease diagnosis, continuous health monitoring, and the on-site detection of biomarkers, pathogens, or therapeutic drug levels, thereby acting as portable laboratories crucial for timely interventions and improved patient outcomes, particularly in remote or resource-limited settings. Beyond health, these versatile biosensors are equally vital for critical environmental monitoring, including the detection of harmful pollutants, heavy metals, and pathogens in water quality.
Portable Electrochemical Biosensors for MicroRNA detection
Project Leader: Dr Saimon Moraes Silva
Collaborators: Professor Brian Abbey, Professor Conor Hogan
Portable electrochemical sensors for microRNA (miRNA) detection are innovative devices that convert the binding of specific miRNA biomarkers into measurable electrical signals, holding promise for rapid, sensitive, and cost-effective cancer diagnostics. This technology offers the potential for non-invasive, point-of-care screening for cancer diagnosis and monitoring of disease progression as well as treatment efficacy, thereby facilitating timely interventions and improved patient outcomes.
Autophagy sensors
Project leader: Professor Yuning Hong
Collaborator: Dr Siyang Ding
Autophagy (“self-eating”) is an evolutionarily conserved survival mechanism in living organisms during which intracellular components (‘cargo’) are identified and delivered to lysosomes for degradation. Dysregulation of autophagy has been found to associate with diseases ranging from neurodegeneration, early stage of cancers, cardiovascular disease to infectious disease. Our lab endeavours to develop next generation autophagy probes based on small molecules that are highly specific to autophagy. These probes will be used to track the dynamic process of autophagy and measure its activity in cells and in vivo, with applications ranging from fundamental mechanistic studies, drug evaluation and screening, to disease diagnostics.
Development of Raman Reporter Molecules for Biosensing
Project leader: Professor Yuning Hong
Collaborator: Associate Professor Wren Greene
The need for continuous biomarker detection and monitoring in complex environments such as blood and wastewater has become increasingly urgent. To enable a multi-analyte detection system, we are developing a suite of Raman-active reporter molecules that generate strong, specific signals without interference from biological noise. In collaboration with Wren Greene, we aim to incorporate these molecules into their SERS platform for multiplex biosensing of analytes in complex biofluids.
Functional boronic acid probes for sensing carbohydrates
Project leader: Associate Professor Peter Barnard
Collaborators: Professor Conor Hogan, Professor Mark Hulett, Boron Molecular Pty Ltd.
Development of new molecular probes for sensing biologically important carbohydrates and glycated proteins. This project will result in improved methods for diagnosing and managing diseases associated with these markers, such as diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease.
Next-generation smart devices for conitnuous and remote monitoring
Project leader: Dr Shanmuga Sundar Dhanabalan
Collaborators: Professor Aniruddha Desai, Dr Saimon Moraes Silva, Professor Brian Abbey, Professor Irene Blackberry
This project aims to develop next-generation battery-free wearables and implantables using soft electronics, advanced sensors, and wireless communication for real-time, personalized healthcare. By integrating biochemical, optical, and electrochemical sensing with nanomaterials, these devices offer enhanced sensitivity and flexibility. They enable continuous remote monitoring, especially benefiting rural and underserved communities.
SHE – Smart Healthcare for Women’s Empowerment
Project leader: Dr Shanmuga Sundar Dhanabalan
Collaborators: Dr Saimon Moraes Silva, Professor Kristina Edvardsson
The ‘SHE’ - Smart Healthcare for Women Empowerment project aims to develop smart menstrual pads—a non-invasive, real-time sensor platform for monitoring menstrual blood biomarkers. This technology has the potential to be adapted to detect sexually transmitted infections (STIs), reproductive health markers, cancer, and hormonal imbalances. This innovation offers valuable insights and broad applications in women's health monitoring.
