My research group is interested in understanding the fundamental interactions between biomolecules and physical systems. This involves both electrochemical and photochemical research, the ultimate goal of which is the integration of physical sciences and life sciences for the benefit of applications and understanding in medicine. Our research focuses on arrays of biosensors, new imaging modalities or combinations thereof. Devices resulting from these studies find early applications in biosensors but also have enormous potential for the study of dynamics within cells.

Microarrays

My group has been at the forefront of developing protein microarrays for clinical applications. We worked closely with the Scottish Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) to develop an array which could carry out tests for cell phenotype (ABO and rhesus antigens) in combination with serological tests for blood-borne pathogens (HIV, HCV, syphilis) and this technology is now being commercialised by a local SME.

Recently we have been collaborating with Professor Josh Labaer and Professor Juergen Haas on the fabrication of protein arrays using in vitro transcription and translation. Using this technique we have successfully made arrays of the entire proteome of Varicella Zoster Virus (which causes chickenpox and shingles) and are currently using these arrays to investigate host-pathogen protein-protein interactions.

Raman Bio-Analysis (SERS and CARS)

Raman spectroscopy is a vibrational technique with huge potential for analyzing biological systems. We are currently investigating two variants: surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS).

Gold nanoshells are a novel-class of optically tunable nanoparticle which are ideally suited for measuring SERS in biological systems since they exhibit plasmon resonance in spectral regions where most biological materials are fairly transparent and exhibit low autofluorescence. We have recently demonstrated controlled uptake of nanoshells into cells and have verified that these nanomaterials cause neither apoptosis nor necrosis (types of cell death). Furthermore, by decorating these particles with appropriate probe molecules we have made sensors whose surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectrum is useful in making a variety of intracellular measurements such as pH, redox potential and concentrations of specific proteins.

CARS microscopy is a multiphoton Raman technique particularly suited to imaging the chemical composition of cells. We have recently used CARS in combination with mulitphoton fluorescence to image lipid droplets in fibroblast cells during infection with a virus.

SELECTED RECENT PUBLICATIONS

1. Nanoshells for Surface enhanced Raman Spectroscopy in eucaryotic cells: cellular response and sensor development, Ochsenkühn, M.A.; Jess, P.R.T.; Stoquert, H.; Dholakia, K.; Campbell, C.J. ACS Nano, 2009. Published online as ASAP publication
2. Intracellular imaging of host-pathogen interactions using combined CARS and two-photon fluorescence microscopies, Robinson, I.; Ochsenkühn, M.A.; Campbell, C.J.; Giraud, G.; Hossack, W.J.; Arlt, J.; Crain. J. Journal of Biophotonics 2009, Published Online as “Early view”: Aug 7
3. A DNA nanoswitch incorporating the fluorescent base analogue 2-aminopurine detects single nucleotide mismatches in unlabelled targets, Campbell, Colin J; Mountford, Christopher P; Stoquert, Helene C; Buck, Amy H; Dickinson, Paul; Ferapontova, Elena; Terry, Jonathan G; Beattie, John S; Walton, Anthony J; Crain, Jason; Ghazal, Peter; Mount, Andrew R Analyst, 2009, 134, 1873-9 .
4. A multiplexed protein microarray for the simultaneous serodiagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus/hepatitis C virus infection and typing of whole blood, Burgess, STG; Kenyon, F; O'Looney, N; Ross, AJ; Kwan, MC; Beattie, JS; Petrik, J; Ghazal, P; Campbell, CJ, Anal Biochem 2008, 382, 9-15
5. Cell Interaction Microarray for Blood Phenotyping, Campbell, Colin J.; O’Looney, Nichola; Kwan, Marisa Chong; Robb, Janine S; Ross, Alan J.; Beattie, John S.; Petrik, Juraj; Ghazal, Peter, Analytical Chemistry, 2006, 78(6), 1930-1938
6. A DNA Nanoswitch as a Biosensor, Buck, A. H.; Campbell, et al Analytical Chemistry, 2007, 79, 12, 4724-4728