The 46th Seminar of Advanced Materials Center | Gdańsk University of Technology

We warmly invite you to the 46th seminar of the Advanced Materials Center, which will take place on July 23rd, 2026 (Thursday) at 1:15 p.m. in Auditorium 2 (building 42, WETI B).

Prof. Andrea Idili from University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy, will present a talk entitled "In vivo monitoring of clinically relevant molecules via electrochemical DNA-based (eDNA) sensors".

Andrea Idili is an Associate Professor at the University of Rome Tor Vergata in the Department of Chemical Science and Technologies. He earned his Ph.D. in Chemical Sciences with Excellent cum laude under the supervision of Prof. Francesco Ricci at the University of Rome Tor Vergata in 2016, with research focused on DNA nanotechnology. Following approximately one year of postdoctoral research in the group of Prof. Ricci, Dr. Idili held postdoctoral positions in the group of Prof. Kevin Plaxco (UCSB, USA – from 2017 to 2019), focusing on in-vivo biosensing, and Prof. Arben Merkoci (ICN2, Spain – from 2019 to 2021), working on paper-based and electrochemical sensors for point-of-care applications. His current research group focuses on developing novel DNA-based electrochemical and optical sensors that can support the real-time, continuous monitoring of diagnostically relevant molecules in vitro and in vivo. The importance of his research is reflected in 43 peer-reviewed papers published in high-impact factor journals (h-index 26), 1 patent, and 4 book chapters. He has received several international and national awards and fellowships in recognition of his work, including the Marie Skłodowska-Curie individual fellowship (MSCA-IF 2020, REA), the “ISSNAF Awards For Young Investigators 2019” (ISSNAF, USA), the “PROBIST postdoctoral fellowship 2019”, an “Honor mention 2014 Primo Levi award” (Italian Chemical Society), and the “Canada-Italy Innovation Award 2013” (Embassy of Canada to Italy). His research is significantly supported by the prestigious "My First AIRC" Grant 2024 (€500,000), awarded by the AIRC Cancer Research Foundation, for which he serves as Coordinator of the project.

After the seminar, we traditionally invite you for pizza!

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Abstract:

Real-time, in vivo monitoring of drugs, metabolites and biomarkers with high temporal resolution is a significant challenge, but also a remarkable opportunity for electrochemistry to advance personalized medicine and deepen our fundamental understanding of biology. To address this challenge, we have developed an electrochemical biosensor platform designed for the continuous detection of analytes directly within living organisms. Our approach uses aptamer-based conformational switching that is immobilized at the electrode surface. When aptamers bind their specific molecular targets, they undergo structural rearrangements, modulating electrochemical properties of the electrode interface, such as electron transfer kinetics of attached redox tags, and thus translating molecular recognition events into measurable electrochemical signals. For example, they can alter the electron transfer kinetics of an attached redox tag. This mechanism effectively translates molecular recognition events into measurable electrical signals. The exceptional specificity of aptamer-target interactions ensures highly selective, reproducible and frequent monitoring of clinically relevant analytes in vivo, irrespective of their intrinsic electrochemical properties. Thus, this sensing platform provides clinicians with a powerful new tool for precisely quantifying biomolecules within complex biological matrices, offering unprecedented electrochemical insights and paving the way for the development of advanced closed-loop drug-delivery strategies in personalized healthcare.