Hi Renato, you are currently working on your PhD project at Maastricht University – tell us about your journey as a scientist so far.
My student life started at the Politecnico di Milano, where I enrolled in a Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Engineering. It was a rapidly developing field of research, and I was fascinated by the potential applications of regenerative medicine that scientists were studying. During my Master's, I specialized in biomaterials and biomachines; I also had the opportunity to work at the SMART Institute (where SMART stands for Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology) in Singapore for my Master's thesis. That experience confirmed my passion for research and my decision to choose the academic path. My background helped me find a PhD position in the Sensor Engineering group at Maastricht University, which I then joined in 2018. We are an interdisciplinary research group working in chemistry, biology and engineering, and developing synthetic, cheaper and robust biosensors for a variety of applications.
What are you working on at the moment?
Most of my work during my PhD has been focused on molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) and surface imprinted polymers (SIPs). These are synthetic receptors that bind a target and, as such, make it possible to develop sensing mechanisms. The contained costs, the flexibility and the ease of production of this technology make these sensors suitable for detecting designer drugs, for example the psychoactive substance 2-MXP. While MIPs are well suited for detecting molecules such as 2-MXP, bigger analytes can be detected with SIPs. Recently, I have been working on biosensors for hepatic cancer cells. The idea is to create a functionalized polymer layer that can be used as the sensing core of biosensors. First, a layer of pyrrole is electropolymerized on a surface that was previously treated and where cancer cells are attached. Once the polymerization is finished, the cells are not completely covered and can be removed and washed away. This process is called imprinting, and the final result is a functionalized polymer layer.
What is especially promising about synthetic receptors in your view?
I believe there is great potential in this area, given the numerous advantages of synthetic receptors. Academic interest is growing, but industry is also looking into applying MIPs and SIPs for sensing applications. For example, we collaborate on multiple projects with companies that work in the field of food processing, which is a very active sector in the south of the Netherlands.
What is the next big challenge in your research area?
As I mentioned, one of the most exciting aspects of our field is the potential to apply our research to commercial applications. In my opinion, this also brings two main challenges: the scaling up of the production processes of MIP and SIP fabrication, and the development of robust assays that can be reliably used by untrained personnel. The COVID-19 pandemic showed us how important it is to have fast and reliable testing equipment available in large quantities. Ultimately, in our field, this makes the difference between a successful idea and a failure.
How does the MFIA Impedance Analyzer support your research?
Since we acquired our first MFIA in 2020, it has become a crucial element in our lab. We rely on impedance spectroscopy for multiple applications. On one hand, the MFIA allows us to characterize reliably and consistently the polymers and substrates we synthesize. On the other hand, we use it to validate other readout techniques: in our lab we develop and use different readout methods, from thermal to colorimetric, so we need a consistent benchmark to tune the variables in our experiments. Last year we expanded our capabilities with a second MFIA. Almost all members of our research group use impedance spectroscopy by now.
This is nice to hear, thank you! Even though you have so far discussed your academic path, we know that you have also taken some steps towards the business world by co-founding startup Flui.Go Science. Can you tell us more about the initial idea and where you are with it right now?
During my PhD, I had tutoring duties in some Bachelor's courses at the Faculty of Science and Engineering. Over the years, I developed a passion for teaching but noticed there was a lack of supporting materials for students, especially in terms of hands-on approaches that would allow students to learn intuitively and more actively. I started working on ideas and prototypes for a Science Toy Kit and, after experiencing enthusiastic reactions from the people around me, I created Flui.Go Science in March 2020. Today we collaborate with over 20 secondary schools in the area that field-test our first product, integrating it into their science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) classes. Our main drive comes from the positive reactions of teachers and parents: this makes us believe in the project even more. Developing a product optimized for young students is not an easy task, because many requirements need to be taken into account. We have a highly motivated and competent team that puts passion and time into this project.
We are sure that your PhD and the startup keep you very busy, but what do you like to do in your free time?
I like to spend my free time in the open air. I love cycling, climbing and sailing. Maybe in my future research I will focus more on environmental sensors - and who knows, I might convince my boss to set up a floating lab on a sailing boat!
Thank you for sharing your insights during this interview.
