Can polymers improve detection systems? From Bio-MEMs to waterborne pathogen detection

The typical architecture of detection systems contains functionalized surfaces and biological components in close contact. The control of the interactions between the target-analyte and the surfaces leads to the optimum performance of such systems. In my work I explore the use of polymers for the improvement of Bio-Microelectromechanical systems and waterborne pathogen detection systems. So far polymers have attracted great attention due to their low cost, variable functional groups and easy integration in mass fabrication processes. In the first part of the seminar, I will present new processes based on thin polymeric films for the optimization of Bio-MEMs. In the second part of the seminar, I will discuss the use of polymers for the improvement of waterborne pathogen detection.