Sensor100 June 2015 1

Sensor100The International Bio-sensor and Chemo-sensor Network

June 2015

© 2015 Captum Capital Limited

Sensor100 June 2015 2

From the Editor 3

When sensors and society interact 4

Sensor 100 Conferences 6

handhold Summer School 8

Coming events 9

BioDot Hands-on Workshop 10

Chemical Analysis and Medicine 11

Sensors Global Summit 2015 12

COMSOL advertisement 13

Food & Agriculture 14

Healthcare 16

4th Int Conference on Biosensing Technology 20

Technology News 22

The Last Word 25

About Sensor100 26

www.sensor100.com

Contents

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In between editing and writing this newsletter, Sensor100 occasion-ally has a little time to think about the bigger picture - where is sen-sor technology going.? The obvious immediate answer is that it will be sucked into the black hole of IT, wireless, smart phones and apps. Some of that will happen, but predictably not by any means most of the myriad of development activity around the world.

Our cover picture this month depicts our current thinking on where the major markets are. In a foot in the water effort to refresh this newsletter, we have attempted to reconfigure it along those lines, although Technology underscores all the applications.

In addition to minor changes in editorial format, we are boldly strengthening our conference program to reflect three of the major market sectors - we are passing on Defense for the moment; maybe we will rethink that at some point.

Please look at the Conference series we are planning and at least let us know if you are interested.

Kind regards

Michaelmichael@sensor100.com

From the editor...

Sensor100 June 2015 4

Environment

When Sensors and Society InteractUniversity of York - Environmental Monitoring Show 2015

On Tuesday 11th June, The University of York held an Open Day on its major environmental monitoring program CAPACITIE.

Keynote presentations were by:• Prof. Alistair Boxall and Simon Evans (Perkin Elmer) - Sensing in the City: the project to monitor the environ-ment of the City of York using Perkin Elmer’s Elm air monitoring technology• Dr. Alison Dyke and Dr. Charles Lane (FERA) - Citizen science for monitoring tree health: the OPAL Tree Health Survey: how a large group of volunteers were used to survey all the trees in England and Wales• Prof. Jon Timmis and Dr. Peter Hickey (DSTL) - Detecting Chemical Vapours in Dynamic Environments: development of a robot to negotiate its unguided way to e.g. an explosive device

The Open Day included tours of the York Robot-ics Laboratory and SkyGas ( a new technique for determining watershed/airshed gas fluxes). Slightly off-topic, a high-light was the robot which could solve Rubik’s Cube in <30 seconds.

Prof. Aistair Boxall

Prof. Jon Tmmis

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The day concluded with a Panel Discussion which among other things explored:

• How technology producers work with universities?• What happens if we find a city in breach of environmental regulations?• Is it ethical to make decisions from citizen science projects?• How do we measure ROI on large scale environmental projects?

What this event brought into sharp focus was the variety of social issues which surround the application of sensors in environmental monitoring. We now have the ability to monitor environmental pol-lutants in real time on a large, city wide scale, but what do we do with this data? Can we afford, at least in the UK under its current austerity economy, to take remedial action if a city is found to be in breach of EU guidelines? In a guns for butter type economic argument where does environmental pollution fit - what might we be prepared to sacrifice to gain a cleaner, healthier environment? And how interested should we be in pollutants which we know are there - like nanoparticles and the degradation products of human and veterinary pharmaceuticals - if they are below our current levels of detection?

Overall, this was an informative and thought provoking day, which dem-onstrated how effectively one of the UK’s more modern universities can interact with industry and the public sector to help resolve societ-ies’ problems at the same time as producing high quality science and training the next generation of scientists. Good effort, York.

Contributed by: Michael Brandmichael@sensor100.com

Environment

Sensor100 June 2015 6

18 - 19 November 2015Call for Papers Open

Expressions of interest are invited from:

Speakers; Exhibitors; Sponsors

Poster Displays & Delegates

Register SiF&Ag Interest

Events

The 4th Annual InternationalSensors in Medicine 2016 Conference

Register SiM16 Interest

7 Sensor100 June 2015

Events

The 2nd Sensors in the Environment Conference will take place during York’s Innovation Festival in June 2016

Organised by:

Register SiE16 Interest

Sensor100 intends to launch a challenge in 2015 toidentify the most promising sensor technologies for the

early diagnosis of cancer.The leading technologies will be invited to present at an

International Conference in Boston MA in June 2016More details will follow next month

Sensor100 June 2015 8

9 Sensor100 June 2015

Coming Events

7th Annual Next Generation Dx SummitAugust 18 -20, Washington DC

11th Annual COMSOL European Conference October 14 - 16 Grenoble FR

16th International Conference on ElectroanalysisJune 12 -16, 2016, Assembly Rooms, Bath UK

Biosensors 2016May 25 - 27, 2016, Gothenburg Sweden[Deadline for Abstracts 13 November 2015]

List your event on Sensor100’s Events CalendarSend details to info@sensor100.com

Sensor100 June 2015 10

11 Sensor100 June 2015

November 10-11, 2015 | San Diego Marriott La Jolla | La Jolla, CA

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Sensor100 June 2015 14

Food & Agriculture

Biosensors in Agriculture - Workshop ReportThe UK’s Knowledge Transfer Network held a Workshop on Biosen-sors in Agriculture in Birmingham on 17th June. The Workshop provid-ed an overview of the interests of the agricultural community, as well as the current state of some aspects of sensor technology in this market sector; in such a short crowded event it was not possible to compre-hensively cover potential applications of new developmnets in sensor technology. There would seem to be a need to engage academic sen-sor research with the agricultural community. A full report and copies of speaker slides can be found here

Write a Product Review for Select Science and they will donate $5 to Water AidWaterAid is an international organization that aims to enhance the lives of the poorest people by improving access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene. More details...

New biosensor detects Listeria in minutes A new biosensor developed by researchers at Texas A&M University, US, can detect the food poisoning bacteria Listeria in just 2–3 minutes, a great improvement on standard techniques which can take days. The researchers created polymer ‘nanobrushes’ which mimic the action of the Hawaiian bobtail squid’s light organ by binding to only one type of bacteria, in this case Listeria. To do this, the researchers attach ‘aptamers’ which bind to specific receptors found on the cell membranes of Listeria bacteria.

Reported by The Chemical Engineer. June 22

Listeria causes the third-largest number of deathsfrom food poisoning in the US

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Fluorescent biosensors designed with crab waste

A team of researchers from the Bio-logical and Technology Interest Car-bohydrates Group of the University of Seville obtained fluorescent bioma-terials from red crab shells and waste from Guadalquivir. The fluorescence turns them into “fast and accurate” sensors to detect contaminants in food preparation processes or to “light” inside the cells and make them vis-ible under an electron microscope. This study is part of the project of excellence ‘Utilization and Recovery of Agrifood Industrial Crab Pro-cambarus clarkii Waste of Marshes in Guadalquivir through Chitosan Transformation and High Value Added Derivatives’Reported by Fish & Information Services June 16

Innovative paper biosensors have been created that can discover food contaminants

A new system in the biosensors market has been devised where pa-per biosensors can be printed and used to detect safety issues in food, thanks to researchers at McMaster University. So-called ‘bio-inks’ are using in widely available inkjet printers to print high molecular weight man-made DNA molecules onto paper. These molecules then give off a specific signal when a disease is detected.Reported by CompaniesandMarkets.com June 15

Food & Agriculture

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Healthcare

What are the Prospects for Flexible Biosensors?Flexible, stretchable electronics that could be worn directly on the skin like a temporary tattoo might have a wide range of uses. Such devices might measure vital signs such as respiratory rate, level of electrical activity in the brain, heart rate, temperature, and blood oxygen lev-els—providing real-time monitoring outside of doctor’s offices, ideally without the wearer even noticing. Kristin Majcher in MIT Technology Review Insider has reviewed developments.

Cambridge MA MC10 is about to release a flexible, sticker-like sen-sor called the Biostamp, which it says can detect data from the brain, muscles, and heart. At Northeastern University, associate professor Heather Clark has been developing a tattoo that can be injected into the skin to detect sodium, glucose, and five other markers normally measured during a blood test. The tattoo has tiny sensors that fluoresence in the presence of those substances in the body; the level of fluorescence can be meas-ured by taking a picture of the tattoo with a modified iPhone. ICosmetics giant L’Oreal may seem like an unlikely source of electron-ics breakthroughs, but the company is interested in using thin, flexible, stretchable devices to track changes in the skin over time

At UC San Diego, researchers in Joseph Wang’s group are working on a temporary tattoo that can take in and measure glucose–a device that could make life easier for diabetes patients.

Full report in MIT Technology Review Insider (subscription re-quired) 27 June

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Healthcare

Google Announces Health Tracking WristbandGoogle Inc.’s life sciences group has created a health-tracking wristband that could be used in clinical trials and drug tests, giving researchers or physicians minute-by-minute data on how patients are faring.The experimental device, developed within the company’s Google X research division, can measure pulse, heart rhythm and skin tempera-ture, and also environmental information like light exposure and noise levels. It won’t be marketed as a consumer device, said Andy Conrad, head of the life sciences team at Google. “Our intended use is for this to become a medical device that’s prescribed to patients or used for clinical trials,” Conrad said.Reported by Bloomberg Business June 23

Whispering Gallery’ of Light Speaks Loudly on Dis-ease Detection

Researchers funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation are creating a new biosensor that uses laser light, engineered viruses and advanced manu-facturing techniques to more accurately detect the smallest amounts possible of biologi-

cal molecules — in our food, in our water, and even in our own blood. Shown here is a cross-sectional view of a circular optical cavity, or resonator, showing whispering gallery modes total internally reflected along the surface of a fiber. Image Credit: Joe Cheeney, University of California-RiversideContributed by: Sarah Bates, US NSF to Live Science June 22

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Healthcare

LamdaGen Corporation Receives Notice of Allow-ance to Grant European Patent for Enzymatic Assays Performed on LSPR Based Plasmonic Nano-SensorsPatent for Ultra-Sensitive and Rapid Assay SystemLamdaGen Corporation, a leading developer of diagnostic biosen-sors, announced it has received notification from the European Patent Office (EPO) of its intention to grant the patent application entitled “Enzymatic Assays for LSPR” which enables highly sensitive and rapid diagnostic assays. LamdaGen’s patented nano-based LSPR (Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance) sensors are ideally suited for In-Vitro Diagnostic (IVD) and Point of Care Testing (POCT) systems, facilitating precise quantitation into the low femtomolar range, significantly lower than that of current conventional ELISA assays. This new patent broadly covers nano-plasmonic LSPR surfaces and particles used as solid sup-ports for high-speed and quantitative plasmonic immunoassays.Read LamdaGen Press Release June 22

Sano raises $10M for wellness-focused, noninvasive blood glucose tracking wearableSan Francisco-based Sano Intelligence, which is quietly developing a health-sensing wearable, has raised $10.25 million in funding. Sano is developing a biometric-sensing wearable that, among other things, non-invasively tracks blood glucose to “will help people understand what’s happening inside their bodies through continuously monitoring impor-tant markers in their bodies’ chemistry”. The company’s first product, which non invasively monitors blood glucose, will launch early next year. This product will be sold directly to consumers and will not be billed as a device intended to help people manage their diabetes. Reported by MobileHealthNews June 22

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Healthcare

NDK uses quartz to detect disease from breathNihon Dempa Kogyo (NDK) of Tokyo, the quartz crystal producer, has developed a prototype crystal-based disease detector which diagnoses disease from breath. The system has detected hepatic cirrhosis by de-tecting ammonia in breath. NDK is now looking at extending the sys-tem to diagnose a wider range of illnesses. The frequency of a quartz crystal oscillator changes when it comes into contact with even a tiny amount of material. To turn a crystal oscillator into an odour detector, a membrane that absorbs only one specific substance is applied to the sensor’s electrode. The sensor is then exposed to a sample of air. If the targeted substance is present, it will pass through the membrane and cause the crystal’s frequency to change.Reported by Electronic Weekly

SERS for Label-Free BiosensingA new variant of SERS developed by a group at Jackson State University in Mississippi, U.S., uses a hybrid probe composed of graphene oxide at-tached to a popcorn-shaped gold nanoparticle to achieve ultrasensitive sensing of HIV DNA and MRSA.

Reported in Ocean Optics eNewsWire June 2015

Modular fiber optic Raman spectroscopy system for SERS detection

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Technology News

4th International Conference on Bio-Sensing Technology10 - 13 May 2015, Lisbon, Portugal

Building on the success of the first 3 conferences, the 4th International Conference on Bio-Sensing Technology was attended by 400, or so, dele-gates fom 43 countries. Scientists representing academia and industry came together to hear presentations and view posters from leading research groups and companies highlighting new advances and opportunities in bio-sensing technologies. The poster sessions were held on conjunction with an exhibition from companies showcasing their latest technologies supporting biosensor research and development.

The two and half days of presentations, explored a number of technologies:Novel biomarkers, Biosensor surfaces, Sample handling, Electrochemical detection, Biosensors for health, Silicon devices, Novel detection technolo-gies, Biosensors for cells, Future products and Case studies. Emerging from the oral and poster presentations were two major themes: rapid detection of infectious agents and sensors for health and wellbeing. Addressing the first theme, Professor Nigel Silman of Public health England gave the confer-ence address on Biomarkers for detection of infectious disease pathogens. The second theme was addressed by the 2015 Bio-sensing lecture given by Professor Ian Craddock from Toshiba Research UK, who spoke on the future healthcare requirements.

Other keynotes talks were from Dr Maiwenn Kersaudy-Kerhoas, (Royal Academy of Engineering) on sample preparation; Dr Cy Tamanaha (U.S. Na-val Research Laboratory) on the integration of technologies in the evolution of a bio-sensing platform; Dr Micah Atkin (MiniFab, Australia) on biosensor integration for real world products.

European Enterprise Network Workshop

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The Conference Chair, Professor Richard Luxton and Chair of the Scientific Committee, Professor Janice Kiely, presented awards for the best oral and best poster. Dr Giovanni Longo was awarded best oral presentation with his talk on “A nanomotion sensor to characterize nanoscale movements of bio-logical systems”. Stefan Schrittwieser was awarded the prize for best poster entitled “Direct homogeneous immunodiagnostics of the biomarker HER2 in serum and saliva samples by monitoring the rotational dynamics of hybrid cobalt nanorod probes”.

The ethos of strong industry collaboration was highlighted by a joint partner-ing meeting organised by IBST and the European Enterprise Network, held on the Wednesday afternoon following the close of the conference. Here 22 research organisations and companies were able to arrange formal one-to-one meetings to discuss further collaboration. The partnering workshop was supported by the EEN Lisbon office and the UK office.The social events were very popular with a drinks reception on the first evening, sponsored by the ex-hibiting companies, and the conference dinner held on the second evening. The diners were treated to musical interludes of traditional Portuguese singing (Fado).

Overall the conference was a great success with a strong feeling of community bringing together researchers from different disciplines, creating a great “buzz”. The atmosphere is extremely supportive of young researchers presenting their data at an international conference enabling them to meet fellow researchers from other countries and develop their international networks.

The 5th International Conference for Bio-sensing Technology will be held in Italy in 2017.

Contributed by: Prof. Richard LuxtonRichard.Luxton@uwe.ac.uk

Technology News

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Technology News

An origami paper-based bacteria-pow-ered batteryTwo engineers at Binghamton University have developed a collapsible, bacteria-powered battery that uses the ancient Japanese paper folding art of origami, “Our simple and cheap origami biobattery is expected to be used especially in resource limited regions as a power source for other small devices like biosensors,” Seokheun “Sean” Choi, the battery’s creator and a professor at Binghamton.

Reported by PBS Newshour 27 July

Towards Graphene Bio-sensorsFor the first time, a team of scientists at the Institute for Silicon Photovoltaics, Berlin, has succeeded in precisely measuring and controlling the

thickness of an organic compound that has been bound to a graphene layer. This might enable graphene to be used as a sensitive detector for biological molecules in the future.Reported by Phys.org June 24

The four steps based on origami principles Choi and Lee used to fold up their biobat-tery. Image drawn by Jiaqi Zhang

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Technology News

Physicists develop ultrasensitive nanomechanical biosensor

Two young researchers working at the MIPT Labo-ratory of Nano-optics and Plasmonics have developed an ultracompact, highly sensitive nanomechanical sensor for analyzing the chemical composition of substances and detecting biological objects, such as viral disease markers,

Unlike similar devices, the new sensor has no complex

junctions and can be produced through a standard CMOS process technology used in microelectronics. The sensor doesn’t have a single circuit, and its design is very simple. It consists of two parts: a phot-onic (or plasmonic) nanowave guide to control the optical signal, and a cantilever hanging over the waveguide.Reported in Phys.org June 10

Principle of the sensor.Credit: Dmitry Fedyanin and Yury Stebunov

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The Last Word

MIT researchers develop the world’s first USB-pow-ered mobile stethoscope

A prototype design of the world’s first USB-powered mobile stethoscope.

Take a deep breath before you read this: A team from MIT has built the world’s first USB-powered mobile stethoscope. Plugged into a smartphone, its companion app transforms the device into a low-cost diagnostic tool, which health workers and nonspecialist physicians can use to diagnose lung disease.

The team won $100,000 in the Wireless Innovation Project contest sponsored by Vodafone Americas Foundation. The annual competition, which supports high-potential mobile and wireless technology solu-tions, is now in its seventh year.

Reported by Boston Globe June 17

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