SoftSense - Bio/Chemosensors for Soft Robotics
Lead Research Organisation:
Imperial College London
Department Name: Bioengineering
Abstract
SoftSense aims to develop bio/chemosensor platform to interface with soft robotics. The main objective is to underline the potential
and applicability of such sensors in proof-of-concept demonstrations in agricultural food security applications. The expected impact
of SoftSense is the diversification of the potential of soft robotics and paving the way for the commercialization of these technologies.
Conventional biosensing and chemical sensing rely on the detection in buffer solutions and liquid matrices to quantify the
concentration/amount of target analytes. This reliance results in often lengthy sample preparation steps and varied calibration curves
in real samples. Soft robotics most commonly deal with solid matter; accordingly, the soft-robot integrated bio/chemosensors should
apply to rapid dry-phase detection of target analytes. The dry-phase bio/chemosensing is highly challenging as the solid surfaces are
harder to quantify the concentration/amount of the analyte, and most of the recognition elements function in aqueous media.
In SoftSense, we aimed to develop analyte-specific hydrogels compatible with rapid electrochemical bio/chemosensing and soft
robotics in the screening of agricultural produce for selected pesticides and mycotoxins. We will utilize single-stranded DNA (ssDNA)
aptamers to achieve the target specificity. ssDNA aptamers are short nucleotide sequences of synthetic single-stranded DNA selected
in vitro toward target analytes with high affinity and selectivity. They can be synthesized by solid-phase chemical reactions in bulk
and tailored chemically to have labels, resistance to nuclease activity, and long-term stability. We will utilize electrochemical bio/
chemosensing methods to achieve the rapid detection of selected analytes.
and applicability of such sensors in proof-of-concept demonstrations in agricultural food security applications. The expected impact
of SoftSense is the diversification of the potential of soft robotics and paving the way for the commercialization of these technologies.
Conventional biosensing and chemical sensing rely on the detection in buffer solutions and liquid matrices to quantify the
concentration/amount of target analytes. This reliance results in often lengthy sample preparation steps and varied calibration curves
in real samples. Soft robotics most commonly deal with solid matter; accordingly, the soft-robot integrated bio/chemosensors should
apply to rapid dry-phase detection of target analytes. The dry-phase bio/chemosensing is highly challenging as the solid surfaces are
harder to quantify the concentration/amount of the analyte, and most of the recognition elements function in aqueous media.
In SoftSense, we aimed to develop analyte-specific hydrogels compatible with rapid electrochemical bio/chemosensing and soft
robotics in the screening of agricultural produce for selected pesticides and mycotoxins. We will utilize single-stranded DNA (ssDNA)
aptamers to achieve the target specificity. ssDNA aptamers are short nucleotide sequences of synthetic single-stranded DNA selected
in vitro toward target analytes with high affinity and selectivity. They can be synthesized by solid-phase chemical reactions in bulk
and tailored chemically to have labels, resistance to nuclease activity, and long-term stability. We will utilize electrochemical bio/
chemosensing methods to achieve the rapid detection of selected analytes.
