By Dr. Nazareno Scaccia
Between June 23 and July 11, 2025, I had the opportunity to join the Department of Infectious Disease at the Imperial College London as part of the CAMO-Net Off-Site Placement Programme. Hosted at the laboratories of Prof. Dr. Jesus Rodriguez Manzano, this experience aimed to explore the potential of biosensor technologies for antibiotic detection and to strengthen collaboration between Brazilian and UK research groups working in antimicrobial optimisation.
Why biosensors for antibiotic detection?
Rapid detection of antibiotics and resistance mechanisms is a growing priority in antimicrobial stewardship. Traditional methods often require laboratory infrastructure and time, creating delays in decision-making. Biosensor platforms offer a promising alternative by enabling real-time, point-of-care detection through miniaturized, highly sensitive technologies.
During the placement, the focus was on understanding how emerging diagnostic platforms, already used for pathogen detection, could be adapted to measure antibiotic degradation and potentially identify antimicrobial activity in real time.
Three weeks of hands-on learning
The placement was structured in progressive stages:
Week 1 — Molecular diagnostic technologies
The first week introduced the Dragonfly™ Molecular Diagnostic Platform and SmartLid™ sample extraction technology, developed within the CAMO-Net. These systems enable rapid nucleic acid detection and streamlined sample preparation, forming the basis for portable diagnostics.
Week 2 — Biosensors and beta-lactamase quantification
The second week focused on iridium oxide-based biosensors used to quantify
Enterobacteriaceae beta-lactamase activity in vitro. These experiments provided insight into how enzymatic reactions linked to antibiotic degradation can be translated into measurable electrochemical signals.
Week 3 — CMOS Lab-on-Chip technology
The final week explored Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) Lab-on-Chip platforms, including their potential for real-time sensing applications. Exposure to these systems highlighted how microelectronics and biomedical engineering can converge to create portable, scalable diagnostic tools.
Building bridges between Brazil and the UK
The placement also served as a platform for academic exchange and collaboration within the CAMO-Net network. Discussions throughout the programme highlighted opportunities for future joint projects and capacity building, particularly in areas related to diagnostic innovation and antimicrobial optimisation in low- and middle-income settings.
Looking ahead
This experience strengthened the foundation for future collaborative research exploring biosensor technologies and their potential relevance to antimicrobial stewardship. It also highlighted the value of international placements in fostering skills exchange, innovation, and long-term partnerships.
Final reflections
This placement reinforced how rapidly diagnostic technology is evolving and how cross-institutional collaboration can accelerate innovation in antimicrobial stewardship. Bringing together clinical insights and engineering advances has the potential to transform how we detect antibiotics and resistance mechanisms at the point of care, especially in settings where rapid diagnostics are most needed.
