Project Title: Eco-Friendly Fluorescent Graphene Nanolabels for Early Detection of Cardiac Biomarkers
Acronym: CardioGraph
Program Type: NCDI IV - Program 5.2. – Human Resources, Subprogram 5.2.1. Research projects for stimulating young independent teams (TE)
Contract no. 81PED/2025 (PN-IV-P2-2.1-TE-2023-1953)
Project duration: 08/01/2025 - 30/12/2026
Buget: 500.000 Lei
Contracting Authority: Executive Agency for Higher Education, Research, Development and Innovation Funding – UEFISCDI (www.uefiscdi.gov.ro)
Coodinator: Institutul Naţional de Cercetare-Dezvoltare pentru Microtehnologii – IMT Bucureşti (www.imt.ro)
Project manager: Dr. Iuliana Mihalache (iuliana.mihalache@imt.ro)

The CardioGraph project aims are the design, fabrication, and evaluation of novel eco-friendly biosensors based on fluorescent graphene nanomaterials. The project enhances the micro-nanotechnology methods taking part in the current trends for solving the issues of early and ultrasensitive detection of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) that could have a significant impact on the worldwide research community devoted to AMI detection devices. Innovative fluorescent graphene-based nanolabels will be developed and implemented in ultrasensitive immunochromatographic assays for qualitative and quantitative determination of novel cardiac biomarkers that could have a significant impact on disease diagnosis in the early stages, benefiting both patients and point-of-care (POC) medical personnel.

Objective 1: Design and implementation of novel surface-engineered fluorescent nanomaterials as labeling tags for LFIA immunoassays
Objective 2: Development and optimization of miniaturized biosensor arrays on the polymeric substrate for qualitative and quantitative detection of early biomarkers of acute myocardial infarction
Objective 3: Overcoming trials by identifying and solving technical design challenges associated with the fabrication processes of optical sensors toward ultrasensitive biodetection

IMT Bucuresti: Coordonator
Dr. Iuliana Mihalache, CSI, director de proiect
Dr. Carmen Mihailescu, CSI
Dr. Adina Boldeiu, CSI
Dr. Razvan Pscu, CSIII
Dr. Cosmin Romanitan, CSII
Dr. Pericle Varasteanu, CSIII
Dr.  Larisa Gogianu, CS

2 papers published in ISI-indexed journals, including Open Access (OA)
2 papers presented at national or international conferences
1 innovative concept of LFIA biosensor for cardiac biomarkers

1. “Enhancing Lateral Flow Immunoassay Performance Using Green-Synthesized Graphene Quantum Dots and Gold Nanoparticles Derived from Green Tea Extract”, Mihailescu C, Savin M., Veca M., Boldeiu A, Mihalache I. et.al, Conferinta Studentilor Doctoranzi, Editia a II-a, UMF Craiova, 6-7 iunie 2025, Craiova, Romania
   

2. ”Research programmes in evolutionary biology: the evolutionary syntheses and Darwin’s legacy, L. Gogiuanu, Emergence & Evolution of Multi-Level Regulatory Systems, August 17-22, 2025, Venice, Italy.
   

3. “Eco-Friendly Nanoparticles for Rapid Cardiac Biomarker Testing”, Mihailescu C., Savin M., Mihalache I., Boldeiu A., Grigoroiu A., Romanitan C., Brincoveanu O., Moldovan C.A.,  Muscalu G., Stiolica A, E-MRS Fall Meeting, September 15-18, 2025, Warsaw, Poland;
   

4. “Gold Nanoparticles and Carbon Dots Complex for lateral flow Immunoassay Targeting Cardiac Biomarkers”, Mihalache I, Mihailescu C, Bogosel D., Veca M., Savin M., Tucureanu V., Romanitan C., Brincoveanu O., Boldeiu A., Stiolica A, EmergeMAT, October 6-7, 2025, Bucuresti, Romania;