DNA Aptamers and Cell Cultures in Diagnostics of Cancer Disease

The aim of our project is to develop new diagnostic tools for early detection of cancer by means of high frequency thickness shear mode (TSM) sensors. TSM sensors are based on an acoustic method that measures shear oscillations (TSM). In the configuration of a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) with a piezoelectric transducer as frequency determining element these shear oscillations strongly depend on the adsorbed mass. DNA aptamers specific to cancer markers will be immobilized on the surface of the piezoelectric transducer using various types of nanostructures such as dendrimers, gold nanoparticles or carbon nanotubes. The cancer and control cells will be detected either by measuring the resonance frequency and the dynamic resistance of the piezo crystal, or by electrochemical methods. PhD candidates from Linz will be trained in TSM data evaluation and electrochemical methods in Bratislava and PhD candidates from Bratislava will be trained in surface chemistry and cell culture in Linz. We further plan to initialise collaborative projects in the framework of European research programmes and to prepare joint publications.