SEA-ON-A-CHIP
Real time monitoring of SEA contaminants by an autonomous Lab-on-a-chip biosensor
Chemical contamination of estuarine and coastal areas is a highly complex issue with
negative implications for the environment, human health (through the food chain) and
related coastal industries such as fisheries. To tackle such challenges, early warning
systems that can provide extreme sensitivity with exquisite selectivity are required.
SEA-ON-A-CHIP will develop a compact, autonomous and miniaturized analytical system
based on a fully integrated array of micro/nano electrodes and a microfluidic system in a
lab-on-a-chip configuration with electrochemical detection. |
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The project will improve technology associated
to immuno-sensors for marine pollution
control (natural or anthropogenic) with a
clear repercussion on related industries such
as fisheries and aquaculture facilities. Recent
technological developments in the miniaturisation
of electronics and wireless communication
technology have led to the emergence of
Environmental Sensor Networks (ESN). These
will greatly enhance monitoring of the natural
environment and in some cases open up new
techniques. | The platform will be developed for a concrete
application in aquaculture facilities, including
the rapid assessment of 8 selected contaminants
from 5 groups of compounds that affect
aquaculture production (compounds which
are toxic, bioaccumulative, endocrine disruptors),
but also affect environment and human
health (antibiotics and pesticides). The system
will be built in order to work with one-month
autonomy and measuring in real time at least
once per hour. The units will be tested throughout
the lifetime of the project and calibrated |
to state-of-the-art of chemical analytics. With
regards to energy, simple batteries will be used
with small consumption of reagents and waste
production. In addition, the manufacturing process shall guarantee the cost-effective production of each device, permitting the deployment of multiple devices at a very low cost. SEA-on-a-CHIP will be validated using a step-by-step approach: first under laboratory conditions, second under simulated real conditions, and finally during 3 field experiments in the installation of 2 aquaculture SME facilities. The last test phase will be performed in a way that will include dissemination of the findings with a clear view of commercializing the devices. |
With a Consortium diverse in expertise and
experience, SEA-on-a-CHIP aims to break down
interdisciplinary barriers by synthesizing data
and knowledge generated across its 7 RTD work
packages. Three phases of development are
planned. During the first phase, an early-prototype
will be delivered, consisting of a platform
with the basic technological requirements for
the platform operation and a reduced number of
compounds to be sensed. In the second phase,
a second improved prototype will be validated
according to the previous scheme. In the third
phase, the final prototype will include the ability
to analyse the 8 compounds in duplicates and
the final platform will be validated. A long-term
case study will be carried out for testing the
system, final adjustments, validating the analytical
results of the functioning of the platform
and dissemination activities. |
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