Description du sujet de thèse

The main mission of the future PhD student will be the design, the realization, and characterization of electroacoustic RF components for gas detection. Micro and nanofabrication processes will be optimized to make these components compatible with the integration of organic materials.

Contexte de travail

The analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) extracted from human breath can provide a diagnosis of various biochemical molecules present in the human body. These VOCs can serve as potential biomarkers of physiological and physiopathological conditions related to several diseases. Respiratory VOC analysis, a reliable, non-invasive, and rapid biosurveillance approach, has potential for early detection and monitoring of the progress of several chronic inflammatory bowel diseases. Helicobacter pylori, or H. pylori, is a common bacterium that infects the inner lining of the stomach. This infection causes inflammation of the stomach (gastritis) and can cause digestive disorders (burning, pain). Biopsies are often essential for diagnosing this bacterium, monitoring it, and applying treatment. However, this method is uncomfortable, expensive, and especially subject to preoperative concerns.

The thesis subject 'SNIFFER' aims to develop an intelligent and autonomous tool capable of providing an initial solution in the detection and recognition of biomarkers such as CO2 and ammonia, two major molecules that are exhaled as a result of the urease reaction (an enzyme released by the H. pylori bacterium). A challenge for which no solution currently exists, allowing for rapid, real-time, and above all quantified and precise detection. The main objective of the thesis project is to design, manufacture and characterize surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensor arrays using low-cost methods for multivariate detection of low concentrations of biomarkers, which are key elements for diagnosing this disease and monitoring the evolution of patients during and after treatment.

Within the laboratory, the main mission of the doctoral candidate will be to develop innovative organic material-based surface acoustic wave sensors. Research work will therefore focus on the combination of the recognition properties of molecularly imprinted polymers with surface acoustic wave devices in the form of delay lines or resonators. The electrical performance of these sensors manufactured in IEMN laboratory will subsequently be evaluated in terms of their sensitivity and selectivity, as well as their stability over time, reproducibility, and ease of implementation. The fabrication of these devices faces two major challenges:

One of them consists of defining the technological fabrication steps while taking into account the electrical and chemical properties related to the requirements of the operating conditions. The other consists of proposing a process flow that meets the requirements of interfacing these sensors. The second mission consists of designing and prototyping a multifunctional, miniaturized, communicating platform, and implementing embedded learning algorithms to ensure the processing of data from these sensors as well as clustering and quantifying target molecules.

The thesis subject therefore consists of research work with an applied character with focuses on organic electronics, capable of addressing the field of sensors at both the fundamental and technological levels, in a multidisciplinary context in contact with the academic and medical world.

The thesis will be carried out within the Institute of Electronics, Microelectronics and Nanotechnology (UMR CNRS 8520 - https://www.iemn.fr/en/). Located in Villeneuve D'Ascq in Lille metropolitan. The IEMN has more than 500 staff in its workforce, and the institute has a wide range of research activities ranging from physics to materials science, micro and nanotechnologies.

The thesis will be carried out in the NCM team under the direction of Professor Kamal Lmimouni and co-supervised by two young researchers, Dr. Bilel HAFSI, a teacher-researcher at the Institut Catholique d'Arts et Métiers (ICAM-Lille) and a member of the NCM team, and Dr. Clément Dumont, a teacher-researcher at ICAM Lille and a member of the Solid Catalysis and Chemistry Unit (UCCS) on the Cité Scientifique campus of the University of Lille.

Contraintes et risques

Travel between partner sites, as well as participation in conferences and workshops in France and abroad will be expected.