_Prof. Nikos Chaniotakis
Consultant, Ergopedia, 2009 - present
Employing novel nanomaterials for the development of sensing technologies
_For the past twenty years I have been a professor in Greece in the Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry at the University of Crete. I currently head the Chemical Sensors and Biosensors Group there. I am also currently a visiting professor in the Planetary Chemical Analysis Group at Tufts University in Medford, MA. I received my Bachelor's degree in chemistry from the University of Minnesota, received a M.S. (1987) and Ph.D. (1989) from the University of Michigan.
In Crete, my group's primary research focus is in the design and development of both direct and selective chemical sensors, which also includes the development of instrumentation. A major part of this research involves designing and synthesizing novel compounds, both organic and organometallic--the so-called "carries"--which are the fundamental basis for the development of the sensors. |
Nanomaterials as sensors
The primary thrust of my current research is in nanoscience. I am very interested in utiilizing nanomaterials and nanodevices for sensing applications. I utilize nanomaterials to design chemical sensors and biosensors for a variety of applications. The primary application areas are designing biosensors for: clinical analysis; environmental samples; and foodstuffs. Fullerenes are a very promising family of electroactive compounds in order to make carbon nanotube-based biosensors. The first fullerene-mediated amperometric biosensor was developed by our group. The fullrene-mediated Glucose biosensor could operate at significantly lower working potential and showed faster response times and good overall analytical characteristics. Carbon nanotubes were used for the development of the first nanotube-based electrochemical biosensor. |
_Biosensors for extraterrestrial applications
For the past few years, I have been working on sensors that will be part of the chemical analysis system that will enable future extraterrestrial studies. Designing biosensors that can operate remotely and for long periods of time on the Mars surface or in deep-sea environments is a difficult technological challenge. Utilizing the nanomaterials appears to provide solutions to this chemical problem. My current work as a visiting professor at Tufts University focus on unraveling some of the fundamental questions in planetary science using analytical systems designed to explore harsh environments. We have been developing micro and nano solid state sensors for use in the Wet Chemistry Lab for Future Rover Missions. This requires instrumentation that can withstand extreme temperature fluctuations--from -140 to +60 degrees celsius--and can handle unexpected chemical or physical conditions of the alien environment. Our work is in collaboration with the Draper Laboratory in Cambridge, MA and at the NASA/Caltech Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA. |