Aoife Morrin

Biography

Dr. Morrin works in the field of electroanalytical device development for environmental and biomedical sensing applications and has published 42 research papers and 3 book chapters in fields ranging from electrochemical biosensing to novel nanomaterials.

She is an academic member of the National Centre for Sensor Research (NCSR). Her expertise is in developing and studying functional (and stimuli-responsive) materials with improved performances due, for example, to nanostructuring, compositing or printing as functional inks. Integration of these materials into microfluidic platforms for electroanalytical applications including bio- and immuno-sensing and chromatography are of interest.

Dr Morrin currently holds a Career Development Award from SFI worth 0.5 million Euro to develop research in the area of skin diagnostics. Moreover, Dr. Morrin has extensive experience in managing projects being Principle Investigator in a number of national and international grants (over €2 million in total) and is involved in research with industry, for example, through the IRC-employment-based postgraduate programme with T.E. laboratories.

Research Expertise

PhD Students

Select Publications

Application of nanoparticles in electrochemical sensors and biosensors
  X Luo, A Morrin, AJ Killard, MR Smyth      2006      Electroanalysis
The unique chemical and physical properties of nanoparticles make them extremely suitable for designing new and improved sensing devices, especially electrochemical sensors and biosensors. Many kinds of nanoparticles, such as metal, oxide and semiconductor nanoparticles have been used for constructing electrochemical sensors and biosensors, and these nanoparticles play different roles in different sensing systems. The important functions provided by nanoparticles include the immobilization of biomolecules, the catalysis of electrochemical reactions, the enhancement of electron transfer between electrode surfaces and proteins, labeling of biomolecules and even acting as reactant. This minireview addresses recent advances in nanoparticle‐based electrochemical sensors and biosensors, and summarizes the main functions of nanoparticles in these sensor systems.

 

Advanced printing and deposition methodologies for the fabrication of biosensors and biodevices
  L Gonzalez-Macia, A Morrin, MR Smyth, AJ Killard      2010      Analyst
Advanced printing and deposition methodologies are revolutionising the way biological molecules are deposited and leading to changes in the mass production of biosensors and biodevices. This revolution is being delivered principally through adaptations of printing technologies to device fabrication, increasing throughputs, decreasing feature sizes and driving production costs downwards. This review looks at several of the most relevant deposition and patterning methodologies that are emerging, either for their high production yield, their ability to reach micro- and nano-dimensions, or both. We look at inkjet, screen, microcontact, gravure and flexographic printing as well as lithographies such as scanning probe, photo- and e-beam lithographies and laser printing. We also take a look at the emerging technique of plasma modification and assess the usefulness of these for the deposition of biomolecules and other materials associated with biodevice fabrication.

 

Enhancement of a conducting polymer-based biosensor using carbon nanotube-doped polyaniline
  X Luo, AJ Killard, A Morrin, MR Smyth      2006      Analytica Chimica Acta

A biosensor with improved performance was developed through the immobilization of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) onto electropolymerized polyaniline (PANI) films doped with carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The effects of electropolymerization cycle and CNT concentration on the response of the biosensor toward H2O2 were investigated. It was found that the application of CNTs in the biosensor system could increase the amount and stability of the immobilized enzyme, and greatly enhanced the biosensor response. Compared with the biosensor without CNTs, the proposed biosensor exhibited enhanced stability and approximately eight-fold sensitivity. A linear range from 0.2 to 19 μM for the detection of H2O2 was observed for the proposed biosensor, with a detection limit of 68 nM at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3 and a response time of less than 5 s.

 

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