Internationale Partnersuche

Innovation & Technologie Angebot

Compact and mobile sensor system for sensitive on-site detection of individual substances in liquid samples

Country of Origin: Netherlands
Reference Number: TONL20151126002
Publication Date: 8 December 2015

Summary

A Dutch monitoring tool provider, has developed an innovative sensor technology for rapid analysis of liquid samples.The system detects the presence of a selected set of substances, and measures the concentrations of these substances. The system is robust and easy to use for both inside a laboratory and in the field. The SME is offering a joint-venture-, or commercial agreement with technical assistance to industrial- or engineering companies in the water sector or other, new markets.

Description

The Dutch SME is a provider of innovative tools for both online and sample based water quality monitoring. The company develops and produces innovative optical biosensor technology for the real-time detection of contaminants in water.



The system can be used as a mobile platform, to analyse water samples on-site. Applications include routine monitoring of water samples, e.g. for monitoring of water sources and for intake protection. 

It allows identification and quantification of target analytes within 15 minutes at low ppb concentrations. Examples of applications include the detection of pesticides in drinking water, algal toxins in bathing water, mycotoxins in agricultural crops or antibiotics residues in milk.

The technology is a user friendly system for cost-effective analysis of contaminants in various matrices for both lab and field applications.



The system uses the provider’s awarded and patented Lab-on-Chip sensor technology and works with optical sensors coated with a biochemical interface to measure specific substances. The coated sensor chip is mounted in a field replaceable cartridge, and one sensor system can use 8 parallel cartridges, allowing the analysis of up to 8 substances in one analytical run. 



The technology is a compact sensing platform designed for label-free biosensing. It utilizes optical interferometry to detect refractive index changes taking place near the surface of an optical chip. The system is delivered as a complete package including a fluidics system, electronics, an optical detection system and software. The sensor chip is housed in a cartridge which is docked into the system to allow quick and easy loading and unloading of biosensor chips. The cartridge includes a

microfluidic flow cell and the necessary electronic and optical connectors. 



The platform is versatile due to its quickly exchangeable test cartridges: this allows quick reconfiguration of the system to meet the monitoring demands of various applications. Compared to the competing analytical methods, The system offers a unique combination of versatility (can be used to detect small molecules, proteins, bacteria and viruses), high sensitivity, low cost of ownership, and ease of use. It integrates traditional lab sensitivity in a field instrument.



Advantages:

- Brings sensitive and selective measurement from the lab into the field.

- High sensitivity and fast results

- Easy to use

- Suitable for a wide range of applications. Initial efforts focussed on the water industry, but applications possible in e.g. health-care (point of care), pharmaceutical industry, aquaculture, agriculture, i.e. any industry where rapid detection of specific substances/contaminants in a liquid matrix is relevant.

- Flexibility: change of target analytes within seconds by switching between sensor cartridges.



The Dutch SME is either offering a commercial agreement with technical assistance and are looking for a partner that can offer the technology as is or integrate into third party products or solutions. 

For the joint venture agreement the partner sought should have an interest in the capabilities of the solution provided and can have different roles, such as developing local distribution channels for the current product, inclusion of the product into its own products or services OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) agreement or developing the (new) market together.

Advantages and Innovations

Water quality monitoring, especially in drinking water, is still primarily based on traditional grab sampling and laboratory analysis. This means that a sample is taken and transported to the lab where it is analysed, either upon receipt or after storage for days or weeks. In case of an (suspected) emergency the analysis time can be reduced, but the time to transport the sample to the laboratory remains. This means an intrinsic delay, when it is important to have the results as quickly as possible. 



This solution brings de necessary analytical capability to the site instead of the sample to the lab. With the technology solution offered, it will be possible to screen samples at the site for the presence of specific substances, for examples toxic substances of concern, or specific operational parameters. This eliminates the delay, with measurement results being available in 10 – 15 minutes, and decision on stopping or (re)starting of water supply can be taken almost immediately instead of with hour long delays. 



Beyond the application in the water industry, the potential applications for the system include any type of application where the measurement of specific substances (identification and quantification) are required. 



- Use of a highly sensitive interferometer to measure binding of target analyte to the sensor surface. 

- Use highly specific receptors molecules to bind the target analytes. The system will use aptamers (artificial DNA or RNA segments) as robust receptors.

- Use of aptamers provides the possibility to design receptors for a wide range of target substances.

Stage Of Development

Already on the market

Stage Of Development Comment

The measurement concept has been tested and validated in a first generation system, using antibodies as specific receptor molecules. This system is on the market and has been sold to a number of launching customers. A second generation system is currently under development, which will increase the number of analytes that can be measured simultaneously, will have improved performance (use of aptamers as receptors), and will have improved ease of use and robustness. The second generation system will be ready for demonstration in Q2 of 2016.

Requested partner

The Dutch company offers a commercial agreement with technical assistance or joint venture agreement to partners parties that can assist in developing the market for this product. Sectors of interest are the water sector, health-care, pharmaceutical industry, aquaculture, agriculture, i.e. any industry where rapid detection of specific substances/contaminants in a liquid matrix is relevant.



Commercial agreement with technical assistance 

The partner sought will be responsible for developing local market for the current product and for direct sales to customers within his region of responsibility. Furthermore, the partner will be responsible for the technical support (commissioning, maintenance,) of the systems of the Dutch company that are installed within his geographical area of responsibility. The Dutch company will provide thorough technical training of the partner’s personnel in preparation for these activities. Furthermore, the Dutch company will provide technical support to the partner and will provide technical training of the customers acquired by the partner.



Joint  Venture agreement

The partner sought should have an interest in the capabilities of the solution provided and can have different roles, such as developing local distribution channels for the current product, inclusion of the product into its own products or services (OEM agreement) or developing the market together (joint venture agreement). The tasks to be performed by the partner will depend on the nature of the partnership.

The partner  should  bring extensive experience for a target market and a specific project which will allow the adaptation of the product for that market. This experience can include also such technical aspects as methods for sample preparation and/or the access to bioreceptors for target substances of interest for the market. The Dutch company provides the detector platform, the know-how of development and integration of bioreceptors into assays which can be performed on its platform. Furthermore, the Dutch company will provide technical support to the partner concerning operation and maintenance for the market to be developed jointly.