Devon Bryant: Weaving the web: Towards a tailor-made system for capture of eDNA
The importance and difficulty of the analysis of eDNA makes the potential for a new method and system for the eDNA and aDNA retrieval by DNA-sequence specific capture, detection, and concentration of eDNA in clean media for subsequent analysis. This can be achieved through the use of an electrochemical conducting polymer interface. This new system would allow for a more sensitive and fast way to analyse DNA.The proposed research would begin with the synthesis and characterisation of a novel class of thiol-functionalised conducting polymer, that contain an oligonucleotide sequence for the capture of eDNA and aDNA of interest. Inclusion of novel synthetic linkers will additionally allow multiple DNA probe attachments, allowing for multiple DNA sources to be studied simultaneously, increasing the depth that is able to be studied. The ability of capture would then be analysed, identifying quantities, optimising results/conducting polymer and conditions, then testing it on real-world samples.