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Biology subjects

Flauzino, J. M. R.

Publications and source records attributed to Flauzino, J. M. R..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

Bioelectronic wearable sensors produced by computerized embroidery using a dual thread approach

Electronic textiles offer a promising route to wearable systems capable of continuous biophysical and biochemical monitoring. Their broader adoption remains limited by conductive threads that rarely support computerized embroidery (CEmb), reliable electronic integration, and reduced electrochemical capabilities due to coatings that degrade under bending, friction, or aqueous exposure. In this work, we use a dual-thread strategy that integrates silver-plated polyamide threads (AgPT) for high-conductivity pathways with PECOTEX, a chemically resilient PEDOT:PSS-coated cotton thread optimized for biochemical sensing. This approach preserves compatibility with CEmb, enhances electrochemical performance, and reduces cost by reserving AgPT for critical traces. We demonstrate a CEmb-compatible fabrication process for two wearable devices: a fully embroidered SmartBra for electrocardiography and a two-electrode ion sensor for potassium and sodium detection. We validate the design of our wearable dual-thread biosensors through laboratory characterization experiments and evaluate electrochemical sensing performance using a breast milk substitute, enabling realistic testing within womens health and infant-nutrition contexts. By focusing on scalable fabrication and meaningful applications, this work advances embroidered electronic textile systems toward practical, personalized healthcare monitoring.

bioengineering↗

Electrochemical Lateral Flow Assay with Linked Analytics for the Surveillance of Cassava Brown Streak Disease in East Africa

Cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) severely threatens food security in East Africa and the livelihoods of hundreds of millions globally. Effective control requires large-scale surveillance in resource-limited settings, which is currently lacking. We present ELLA (Electrochemical Lateral Flow Assay with Linked Analytics), a portable, battery-free, low-cost digital diagnostic platform integrating lateral flow assays with near-field communication and electrochemical readouts for cloud-based data storage and analytics. Validated through extensive field trials in East Africa and smaller studies in Brazil, ELLA achieved 89% agreement with RT-qPCR and 95% with ELISA, often surpassing ELISA sensitivity at a material cost below US$1 per test. Leveraging ELLAs molecular results, we trained a deep-learning model (DeepELLA) for rapid, image-based diagnosis of CBSD, enabling scalable surveillance of this and potentially emerging plant pathogens. By combining electrochemical sensing, digital connectivity, and AI-driven analytics, ELLA offers a powerful tool to strengthen plant disease monitoring and food security. Its modular design also allows adaptation to other chemical and biological targets, creating opportunities for novel datasets and new insights into plant and environmental health.

bioengineering↗

Plant-on-a-chip: continuous, soilless electrochemical monitoring of salt uptake and tolerance among different genotypes of tomato

Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum), a high-value crop, exhibit a unique relationship with salt, where increased levels of NaCl can enhance flavor, aroma and nutritional quality but can cause oxidative damage and reduce yields. A drive for larger, better-looking tomatoes has reduced the importance of salt sensitivity, a concern considering that the sodium content of agricultural land is increasing over time. Currently, there are no simple ways of comparing salt tolerance between plants, where a holistic approach looking at [Na+] throughout the plant typically involves destructive, single time point measurements or expensive imaging techniques. Finding methods that collect rapid information in real time could improve the understanding of salt resistance in the field. Here we investigate the uptake of NaCl by tomatoes using TETRIS (Time-resolved Electrochemical Technology for plant Root environment In-situ chemical Sensing), a platform used to measure chemical signals in the root area of living plants. Low-cost, screen-printed electrochemical sensors were used to measure changes in salt concentration via electrical impedance measurements, facilitating the monitoring of the uptake of ions by roots. We not only demonstrated differences in the rate of uptake of NaCl between tomato seedlings under different growth conditions, but also showed differences in uptake between varieties of tomato with different NaCl sensitivities and the relatively salt-resistant "wild tomato" (Solanum pimpinellifolium) sister species. Our results suggest that TETRIS could be used to ascertain physiological traits of salt resistance found in adult plants but at the seedling stage of growth. This extrapolation, and the possibility to multiplex and change sensor configuration, could enable high-throughput screening of many hundreds or thousands of mutants or varieties.

bioengineering↗