New International Research Team Headed by Scientists at Clarkson University
A research team at Clarkson University, Milton Kerker Chair in Colloid Science Evgeny Katz and Research Associate Professor Oleh Smutok, received a new NSF-funded award for cooperation with scientists in Ukraine and Poland. This cooperation was organized in the framework of a new NSF initiative called International Multilateral Partnerships for Resilient Education and Science System in Ukraine (IMPRESS-U; https://new.nsf.gov/news/nsf-announces-international-multilateral). The total funding of the international team is $320,000.
This project aims to create novel multi-signal regulated systems that integrate the chimeric enzyme with 'smart' hydrogels and magnetic nanoparticles. This system will form signal-controlled universal biosensors with signal amplification.
The novel study formulated in the present project increases the functionality of the biosensing process based on the NAD+/NADH-chimeric enzyme by including it in “smart” signal-responsive materials (hydrogels or/and magnetic nanoparticles). It should be stressed that the artificial allosteric enzymes activated with the NAD+ or NADH cofactors have never been created and studied before. The novel approach presented by the international team overcomes the problem of expensive and time-consuming synthesis of an artificial chimeric enzyme for each new analyte. The proposal solves the problem by combining commercial NAD+/NADH enzymes, which are available for many different analyte substrates, with the chimeric enzyme specific to the NAD+ or NADH cofactors. Indeed, the first enzyme produces NAD+ or NADH cofactors in response to the numerous possible analytes, and then the second enzyme binds the produced cofactor and translates the conformational changes to the biocatalytic unit switching it ON and activating the biocatalytic reaction. In that way, a single analyte molecule activates the biocatalytic reaction producing the amplified output signal. Now, through international collaboration, we will combine these enzymes with smart materials to increase their functionality.
The proposed research requires a multidisciplinary approach, as it is a combination of different research fields (synthetic biology, bioelectrochemistry, material chemistry, “smart”-signal responding materials) all leading to the results in biosensing which cannot be obtained without this multi-disciplinary approach, therefore work within the international team is key to the project’s success. It is a great opportunity to establish long-term cooperation and exchange experiences, and it also has an educational aspect by introducing junior researchers to the international scientific community.
This basic research gives the promise of numerous applications of the universal biosensor integrated with the signal-responsive materials. The results will lead to a new generic concept of biosensing with simple adaptation to different analytes measured with very high sensitivity (sub-nanomolar concentrations) being controlled by various physical signals (electric or magnetic). This will open novel possibilities in different sub-areas of biosensing, including biomedical, environmental, forensic, homeland security, etc. applications. It should be noted that the signal-amplified and signal-switchable enzyme systems will find many applications in scientific and technological areas related to biosensing, but not being exactly used for traditional sensing applications. These applications will include, but will not be limited by, enzyme-based unconventional computing systems where signal processing will be performed in a binary (0,1 / Truth/False) mode mimicking Boolean logic operations and other computational tasks (e.g., half-/full-adder, keypad security devices, etc.). Another possible application may include bioelectronic systems with switchable performance, e.g., signal-controlled biofuel cells operating as implantable or wearable bioelectronic devices with an adaptivity function.
The international research team, headed by the US group at Clarkson, includes several scientists:
Professor Evgeny Katz and Research Associate Professor Oleh Smutok (US team)
Professor Mykhailo Gonchar (Ukraine team)
Professor Marcin Karbarz and Dr. Klaudia Kaniewska (Poland team)
Dr. Oleh Smutok received his Ph.D. in 2007 and D.Sc. degree (Habilitation) in 2019 from the Institute of Cell Biology, National Academy of Sciences (NAS) of Ukraine. He was a Senior Researcher in the Institute of Cell Biology, NAS of Ukraine, Lviv, Ukraine (2007-2020) and Associate Professor in the Drohobych Ivan Franko State Pedagogical University, Drohobych, Ukraine (2017-2020). Since 2020, he is Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry & Biomolecular Science, Clarkson University, Potsdam, New York, USA. He has (co)authored over 100 papers in high-level journals like: Nature Nanotechnology, Nature Communications, Advanced Materials, etc.
Prof. Evgeny Katz received Ph.D. in Chemistry from Frumkin Institute of Electrochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, in 1983. He was a senior researcher in the Institute of Photosynthesis in 1983-1991. In 1992-1993 he performed research at München Technische Universität as a Humboldt fellow. Later, in 1993-2006, Dr. Katz was a Research Associate Professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. From 2006 he is Milton Kerker Chaired Professor at the Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Science, Clarkson University, USA. He has (co)authored over 530 papers, Hirsch-index 94. His scientific interests are in the broad areas of bioelectronics, biosensors, biofuel cells, and biocomputing.
Prof. Mykhailo Gonchar received his Ph.D. in Bioorganic Chemistry from Moscow State University (former Soviet Union) in 1978 and Dr.Sc. in Biochemistry from Institute of Biochemistry (Kyiv, Ukraine) in 2001. He was an Associated Professor at Lviv National University (Ukraine) in 1980-1985. From 1985 till now he works in the Institute of Cell Biology of the National Academy of Sciences (Lviv, Ukraine): 2000-2007 - Deputy Director for scientific work and Head of the Department of Cell Regulatory Systems, and since 2008 - Head of the Department of Analytical Biotechnology of the same Institute. In 2008-2016 he works as a Prof. of Rzeszow University (Poland). He is a winner of State Prize of Ukraine in the field of Science and Technology (2018). He has (co)authored over 307 papers, Hirsch-index 27. His scientific interests are in Applied Microbiology, Biochemistry, Enzymology, Analytical Biotechnology, and Nanobiotechnology.
Dr. Klaudia Kaniewska received her PhD from the University of Warsaw in 2018. Currently, she is Assistant Professor (PL: adiunkt) at University of Warsaw in Environmentally Sensitive Polymer Materials and Composites group. Her main research interest is focused on synthesis and characterization of electroactive hydrogels and composite materials in form of macro gels and thin layers on conductive surfaces, and her work covers both application and basic aspects. She is interested in designing gel materials for application as skin motion sensors and for the art restoration. She is also involved in study of transport phenomena in gel materials using electrochemical methods and their application in construction of switch on/off electrodes.
Dr. Marcin Karbarz is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw. He earned his Ph.D. degree in 2007 and his D.Sc. degree in 2017. Since 2016, he has served as the leader of the Environmentally Sensitive Polymer Materials and Composites group at the Biological and Chemical Research Center, University of Warsaw. His research is focused on obtaining new, advanced smart gel materials with desired properties. These materials are used to develop drug delivery systems, actuators, smart surfaces, and sensors/biosensors. He has co-authored about 90 publications in journals indexed in the Journal Citation Reports (JCR) and several national and international patents.
