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 how 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. DNA nanostructures are also being used to engineer the local environment around the DNA probes on the surface.

DNA nanostructure SAMs

• Grzedowski, A. J.; Jun, D.; Mahey, A.; Zhou, G. C.; Fernandez, R.; Bizzotto, D. Engineering DNA Nanocube SAM Scaffolds for FRET-Based Biosensing: Interfacial Characterization and Sensor Demonstration. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2024, 146 (46), 31560–31573. 

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:

• Ma, T.; Baker, D. V.; Martinez-Blanco, G.; Bizzotto, D. An EIS Study of the Heterogeneity of Redox Labeled DNA SAMs on Gold before and after Hybridization. Electrochimica Acta 2025, 517, 145747.
• Grzędowski, A. J.; Ma, T.; Bizzotto, D. FRET Imaging of Nonuniformly Distributed DNA SAMs on Gold Reveals the Role Played by the Donor/Acceptor Ratio and the Local Environment in Measuring the Rate of Hybridization. Chem. Biomed. Imaging 2023, 1 (3), 286–296.
• Ma, T.; Grzȩdowski, A. J.; Doneux, T.; Bizzotto, D. Redox-Controlled Energy Transfer Quenching of Fluorophore-Labeled DNA SAMs Enables In Situ Study of These Complex Electrochemical Interfaces. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2022, 144(51), 23428–23437.
• 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