Current Projects

Our research topics are diverse and mainly cover electrochemistry, spectroelectrochemistry and electroanalytical topics. The currently funded projects are listed below:

DNA SAMs:

We are working on developing an understanding of a quick way to prepare stable DNA SAMs that are effective biosensor platforms. Using a gold single crystal bead electrode provides access to the influence of surface atomic arrangements on the characteristics of the modified surface.

Single Crystal gold bead electrode:

• Yu, Z. L.; Casanova-Moreno, J.; Guryanov, I.; Maran, F.; Bizzotto, D.  Influence of Surface Structure on Single or Mixed Component Self-Assembled Monolayers via in Situ Spectroelectrochemical Fluorescence Imaging of the Complete Stereographic Triangle on a Single Crystal Au Bead Electrode  . J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2015, 137 (1), 276–288.

Electrodeposition for preparing DNA SAMs:

• Leung, K. K.; Martens, I.; Yu, H. Z.; Bizzotto, D. Measuring and Controlling the Local Environment of Surface-Bound DNA in Self-Assembled Monolayers on Gold When Prepared Using Potential-Assisted Deposition. Langmuir 2020, 36 (24), 6837–6847.
• Leung, K. K.; Yu, H. Z.; Bizzotto, D. Electrodepositing DNA Self-Assembled Monolayers on Au: Detailing the Influence of Electrical Potential Perturbation and Surface Crystallography. ACS Sens. 2019, 4 (2), 513–520.
• Leung, K. K.; Gaxiola, A. D.; Yu, H. Z.; Bizzotto, D. Tailoring the DNA SAM Surface Density on Different Surface Crystallographic Features Using Potential Assisted Thiol Exchange. Electrochim. Acta 2018, 261, 188–197.

Thermal stability of DNA SAMs

• Ma, T.; Bizzotto, D. Improved Thermal Stability and Homogeneity of Low Probe Density DNA SAMs Using Potential-Assisted Thiol-Exchange Assembly Methods. Anal Chem 2021.
• Ma, T.; Martens, I.; Bizzotto, D. Thermal Stability of Thiolated DNA SAMs in Buffer: Revealing the Influence of Surface Crystallography and DNA Coverage via in Situ Combinatorial Surface Analysis. Langmuir 2020, 36 (48), 14495–14506.

Characterizing DNA SAMs:

• Verhaven, A.; Doneux, T.; Bizzotto, D. Application of FRET Microscopy to the Study of the Local Environment and Dynamics of DNA SAMs on Au Electrodes. Langmuir 2018, 34 (49), 14802–14810.
• Martens, I.; Fisher, E. A.; Bizzotto, D. Direct Mapping of Heterogeneous Surface Coverage in DNA-Functionalized Gold Surfaces with Correlated Electron and Fluorescence Microscopy. Langmuir 2018, 34 (7), 2425–2431.
• Bizzotto, D.; Burgess, I. J.; Doneux, T.; Sagara, T.; Yu, H. Z. Beyond Simple Cartoons: Challenges in Characterizing Electrochemical Biosensor Interfaces. ACS Sens. 2018, 3 (1), 5–12.
• Bizzotto, D. In Situ Spectroelectrochemical Fluorescence Microscopy for Studying Electrodes Modified by Molecular Adsorbates. Current Opinion in Electrochemistry 2018, 7, 161–171.
•  Yu, Z. L.; Leung, K. K.; Yu, H. Z.; Bizzotto, D. A Non-Linear Harmonic Analysis of Potential Induced Fluorescence Modulation of a DNA Self Assembled Monolayer. Electrochim. Acta 2017, 245, 386–394.
• Casanova-Moreno, J. R.; Bizzotto, D. Frequency Response Analysis of Potential-Modulated Orientation Changes of a DNA Self Assembled Layer Using Spatially Resolved Fluorescence Measurements. Electrochim. Acta 2015, 162, 62–71.
• Casanova-Moreno, J.; Bizzotto, D. A Method for Determining the Actual Rate of Orientation Switching of DNA Self-Assembled Monolayers Using Optical and Electrochemical Frequency Response Analysis. Anal. Chem. 2015, 87 (4), 2255–2263.

Previous Projects

Previous projects that are no longer actively pursued are

• Lipid modified electrode surfaces
• SAMs of DNA on Au electrodes
• SAMs on Au electrodes – reductive desorption and surface structure
• Microelectrodes and SAM reductive desorption
• Electrochemical molecular beacon for strain specific TB detection
• Pt nanostructures in/on Nafion
• TMS adsorption / modification of Au electrodes