Current
Research
Environmental
- Water Quality monitoring-optical sensors for
the determination of nitrate, dissolved oxygen, and organic pollutants.
- Waste water/ sewage analysis using non-contact optical techniques for
determination of BOD, COD, TOC and turbidity.
- Miniaturised industrial chemical sensing (uTAS)
system for industrial and domestic water monitoring.
- Systems are available for the determination of pesticides and heavy
metals such as lead, mercury and cadmium.
- Air Quality-detection of solvent vapours, remote and localised sensing
of expolsive hydrocarbons and waste stack emissions.
- Antibody-based sensors for phenollic compounds.
- Integrated monitoring systems.
Ion
Selective Electrodes
Characterisation of planar solid-state sensors
for alkali metal ions produced by immobilising an ion-sensitive PVC membrane
on top of a screen printed silver-silver chloride electrode sited at the
bottom of the well.
Biomedical
- Development of a quick and simple screening test for Cystic
Fibrosis.
- Development of micro instruments, sensors and sampling systems for
monitoring lactate, glucose, oxygen and blood electrolytes.
- Smart Catheters.
- Drug monitoring/Delivery devices.
- Vital signs and biosignal monitoring systems-ECG, Oxymetry, pressure
and temperature.
- Implantable electrodes-biomaterials devices including thin film sensors.
Thin
and Thick Film Fabrication
Full think and thin film deposition equipment
is available for fabrication of biomedical electrodes and planar sensors.
Vital
signs and Biosignal Monitoring
Sensors are available for the monitoring of ECG,
oxymetry, temperature, pressure, chloride, calcium, potassium, sodium,
lactate and glucose.
- Development of tumour markers assays.
- Human antibody assay development.
- Blood type monitoring based on antibody sensing.
- Determination of enzymes such as lactate dehydrogenase and creatine
kinase.
- Sensor systems for in-vitro toxicity determination of clinically
active agents.
Industrial
- Optical methods of amine and ammonia detection.
- Chiral sensors for purity determination of
the enantiomeric purity of pharmaceutical products.
- Theophylline biosensors.
- Development of sensor based systems for process monitoring, optimisation
and control for the chemical/pharmaceutical and biofermentation industries
(includes near IR on-line monitoring of chemical reactions) using a vitual
instrument approach (based on LABVIEW environment).
- Development of novel sensors for the detection of illicit drugs (Heroin,
Cocaine).
- Solid state sensors for the detection of humidity
and refridgerant gases.
Optical
Gas Sensors
Development of a fibre-optic sensor for oxygen.
Interaction between a coating immobilised on the fibre-optic and oxygen
results in a shift in laser beam colour from blue to red.
Food and Beverage
- Detection of amines, aflatoxins, organophosphorous
pesticides, antibiotics, coumarins and stabilizers in food.
- Development of Smart Packaging technology.
- Novel temperature monitoring technology.
- Optical systems for the analysis of the atmospheres (CO2,
O2) of packaged foods.
BIAcore
Immunosensor Technology
In conjunction with the antibody production facilities,
real time analysis of antibody/antigen interaction and antibody characterisation
can be carried out using BIAcore/ Surface Plasmon Resonance Technology.
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