Adelaide researchers developing graphene biosensing device to revolutionise disease diagnosis
The goal: improving healthcare for all. The research: developing graphene-based technology by exploiting materials at the atom-scale for high-value end uses, such as the biosensor industry.
Lead researcher Dr Nathan Stanley, Postdoctoral fellow in the School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials, in collaboration with industry partner Archer Materials, an Adelaide-based and founded materials developer and innovator are working to create the first pre-commercial printed synthetic graphene biosensing device. In simple terms, the biosensing device will one day provide a cheap, quick and accurate test for disease diagnosis in places where it is needed the most.
But how will it work? The graphene surface is extremely ultrasensitive, which means that biomolecules present only a few atoms from the surface of the graphene can be accurately detected – making it ideal for biosensing. By digitising the manufacture of the biosensor componentry, Dr Stanley and Archer Materials are uniquely overcoming key commercial and technological barriers to printable biosensor development.
While the research has not been released to the public yet, it will hopefully not be too long before we see their research addressing these complex challenges to technology and human health.
About the researcher
Dr Nathan Stanley was awarded his PhD in Synthetic Chemistry and Pharmacology by the University of Adelaide in 2010.
He is an inventor and maker of new things; a trained research scientist with an insatiable curiosity and aptitude for creative problem solving.
Dr Stanley is a lifelong learner and lover of collaboration with a passion for applied engineering, with the goal to make the world a better place for humankind.
About the Graphene Research Hub
Launched in 2017, the Graphene Research Hub is based at the University of Adelaide with the goal of enabling the development of a sustainable graphene-based industry in Australia. Graphene is an advanced 2-dimensional (2D) carbon-based material that has many exceptional properties and has been recognised as the Material of the 21st Century; it is lightweight, strong, flexible and conductive.
As well as the University of Adelaide, the Hub includes teams from 4 other universities; Monash, Melbourne, RMIT and UniSA, and partner institution) and principal investigators from 5 industry partners; Archer Materials, First Graphene, Graphene Technology Solutions, NematiQ and Cleanfuture Energy.
The Hub aims to address the challenges of developing scalable, low cost and sustainable graphene manufacturing processes, maintain quality control and provide scientific evidence of the safety of using graphene materials by bringing together a team of researchers and industry partners to work on developing new graphene products and technologies that are needed across broad industry sectors such as mining, oil, gas and energy, biomedical, advanced manufacturing, transport, construction, environmental, defence and space industries.1
Some examples of these products include sensors, biosensors, composite materials, coatings, antennas, membranes and batteries.
About Archer Materials
Archer Materials develop and integrate materials to address complex global challenges in quantum technology, human health and reliable energy. Archer Materials has a diverse advanced materials inventory, strong intellectual property, world-class expertise, and access to over $300 million of R&D infrastructure. In addition, they explore for mineral resources that are categorised by many world economies as ‘critical’ raw materials that are important to long-term economic growth and supply-chain security.2