Biological microsensors for marine and environmental applications
Our biological sensors and systems miniaturise and simplify technologies that currently require expensive and large instruments run by highly specialised personnel. The scientific target is to detect and analyse marine organisms in their environment using low-cost devices.
Flow cytometer
Flow cytometry is widely used for analysing microscopic particles such as cells and bacteria. Microfabricated flow cytometers promise reduced instrument size and cost with increased robustness and have application in medicine, life sciences and environmental metrology. We are developing an integrated microfluidic flow cytometer for in situ sampling and speciating phytoplankton.
NASBA
Harmful algal blooms are caused by certain types of marine microalgae and can lead to major financial losses for fishery, tourism and healthcare industries. Studies have already shown that RNA amplification with nucleic-acid-sequence-based amplification (NASBA) is particularly suitable for early detection of the marine dinoflagellate Karenia brevis. NASBA is an isothermal process of nucleic-acid amplification which occurs at 41°C, combines high amplification and rapid analysis and requires only the total lysate for analysis. We are developing an integrated complete microfluidic system for subcellular analysis of RNA using NASBA.
Related links
- Centre for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, Naval Research Laboratory, USA
- Marine Microbiology Group, University of South Florida, USA
- Labonfoil Integrated project
