Lab on a Stick: Smartphone-ready low cost rapid live microbe detection and identification using nanocoated Micro Capillary Film
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Reading
Department Name: Pharmacy
Abstract
Overall project aim: simple, low cost detection of bacteria using an affordable new microfluidic technology
Bacteria are a major subtype of microbes (or germs) that cause a range of infections and can also contaminate food and medicines during manufacturing. Tools for detecting bacteria are thus vital, but current methods are often laborious and slow, and require the use of a fully-equipped microbiology laboratory. This project will develop a new bacteria testing technology- called Lab-on-a-Stick - that makes detecting and identifying live bacteria simpler, faster and more portable at an affordable price. Ultimately Lab-on-a-Stick tests can be performed without lab equipment and read using a mobile phone camera.
Technology background: Microfluidics and Lab-on-a-Chip
Research over recent decades has developed technology called "microfluidics" using tubes with dimensions smaller than 1mm, typically around 0.1-0.2 mm wide to process reagents and samples. One major aim of microfluidic research is to develop miniature tests, with advantages of the small size including faster, automatic tests and smaller samples. These are referred to as "Lab-on-a-Chip" because complex lab procedures can be performed on a tiny microchip device. However, Lab on a Chip products are expensive and difficult to manufacture and have so far been limited to specialised high value applications, and most rapid disposable tests still use a more familiar format- the dipstick- e.g. pregnancy or blood glucose tests. The great advantage of dipsticks is their extreme simplicity- just dip in sample, and wait for a colour change. Dipsticks have disadvantages, so ideally the benefits of Lab-on-a-Chip microfluidic technology should now be adapted into a dipstick form.
New technology: Lab-on-a-Stick
A collaboration between Reading and Loughborogh Universities led to the invention an entirely new approach -called Lab-on-a-Stick - that promises to deliver microfluidic properties with the simplicity and low cost of a dipstick. This technology exploits special properties of a novel microfluidic material previously studied by the applicant, but also adds a new modification that applies the science of nanotechnology - in other words a modification with dimensions around 1/10,000th of a millimeter. The resulting nano-modified microfluidic material has many beneficial properties, including the ability to perform 10 different tests after dipping into one sample, and as it is exceptionally transparent the tests results can be measured using a mobile phone camera. Remarkably it can still be produced at very low cost, using a simple, conventional manufacturing process, allowing cheap disposable tests that deliver the power of microfluidics.
Current project objectives:
Unpublished studies have already proven that the new dipstick microfluidic technology can perform three standard blood tests in a single drop of blood, and shown that bacteria testing is also feasible. This grant will build on these preliminary studies to produce fully functioning devices for detecting harmful and infectious bacteria in a smartphone-friendly dipstick format. The study will focus on developing a fundamental understanding of how to use the nanotechnology modification to perform accurate and sensitive bacteria tests using the new Lab-on-a-Stick technology platform.
Bacteria are a major subtype of microbes (or germs) that cause a range of infections and can also contaminate food and medicines during manufacturing. Tools for detecting bacteria are thus vital, but current methods are often laborious and slow, and require the use of a fully-equipped microbiology laboratory. This project will develop a new bacteria testing technology- called Lab-on-a-Stick - that makes detecting and identifying live bacteria simpler, faster and more portable at an affordable price. Ultimately Lab-on-a-Stick tests can be performed without lab equipment and read using a mobile phone camera.
Technology background: Microfluidics and Lab-on-a-Chip
Research over recent decades has developed technology called "microfluidics" using tubes with dimensions smaller than 1mm, typically around 0.1-0.2 mm wide to process reagents and samples. One major aim of microfluidic research is to develop miniature tests, with advantages of the small size including faster, automatic tests and smaller samples. These are referred to as "Lab-on-a-Chip" because complex lab procedures can be performed on a tiny microchip device. However, Lab on a Chip products are expensive and difficult to manufacture and have so far been limited to specialised high value applications, and most rapid disposable tests still use a more familiar format- the dipstick- e.g. pregnancy or blood glucose tests. The great advantage of dipsticks is their extreme simplicity- just dip in sample, and wait for a colour change. Dipsticks have disadvantages, so ideally the benefits of Lab-on-a-Chip microfluidic technology should now be adapted into a dipstick form.
New technology: Lab-on-a-Stick
A collaboration between Reading and Loughborogh Universities led to the invention an entirely new approach -called Lab-on-a-Stick - that promises to deliver microfluidic properties with the simplicity and low cost of a dipstick. This technology exploits special properties of a novel microfluidic material previously studied by the applicant, but also adds a new modification that applies the science of nanotechnology - in other words a modification with dimensions around 1/10,000th of a millimeter. The resulting nano-modified microfluidic material has many beneficial properties, including the ability to perform 10 different tests after dipping into one sample, and as it is exceptionally transparent the tests results can be measured using a mobile phone camera. Remarkably it can still be produced at very low cost, using a simple, conventional manufacturing process, allowing cheap disposable tests that deliver the power of microfluidics.
Current project objectives:
Unpublished studies have already proven that the new dipstick microfluidic technology can perform three standard blood tests in a single drop of blood, and shown that bacteria testing is also feasible. This grant will build on these preliminary studies to produce fully functioning devices for detecting harmful and infectious bacteria in a smartphone-friendly dipstick format. The study will focus on developing a fundamental understanding of how to use the nanotechnology modification to perform accurate and sensitive bacteria tests using the new Lab-on-a-Stick technology platform.
Planned Impact
A Public impact
Public health benefits
This project is the start of a program to ultimately deliver new diagnostic and microbial testing products based on Lab-on-a-Stick (LoS) technology with significant public health and patient benefits. The closest to market application (~2-3 years) will be simpler, faster tests replacing current microbiology tests saving QC lab costs in food/pharma manufacturing. Clinical products for diagnosis of bacterial infection in patients will follow (~4-6 years) providing faster pathogen identification with major health benefits including rapid diagnosis and accurate antibiotic selection resulting in faster recovery. Central to MCF technology is a low manufacturing cost, which will deliver more tests for less healthcare expenditure. Long term, a broader range of LoS tests (e.g. biomarker measurement) will be developed, delivering point-of-care clinical tests that cut waiting times for results, and improving diagnostic precision and thus health outcome through personalised medication. The LoS platform has global application in real-world diagnostics, offering low-cost rapid multiple assays tests (e.g. infection screening) that can be performed in a field clinic.
Public awareness of diagnostic technology innovation
There is a public perception of a need for faster, simpler and more accurate diagnostic testing; the public must therefore be made aware of ongoing research and innovation in testing technology. Public awareness of the simple but sophisticated LoS concept will be raised via media publicity following publication of project results.
B Economic impact
IP and technology commercialisation: Project findings will support commercial uptake of LoS technology and exploitation of background and arising IP, building value in UK technology (MCF film, LoS platform). The Point of Care and microbial testing markets are both >5Bn$ and rapidly growing. Commercialisation of IP will occur through evaluation, licensing, and product development either by existing microbial testing/diagnostic companies (e.g. Alere, Roche), or through startup Capillary Film Technology Ltd, as appropriate. In addition non-patentable expertise in affordable microfluidics will arise benefiting the Health Tech community via knowledge transfer. UK manufacturing SME Lamina Dielectrics will benefit from sales of the MCF they exclusively produce.
Expanding research capacity: The PI is establishing a track record in both low-cost microfluidics and in applied microbiology. These areas of expertise will be combined and expanded by the project in the critical field of microbiology testing. The project will also train a PDRA with broad interdisciplinary expertise, but also experience of innovation, technology transfer, industrial R&D, and research translation.
R&D investment, employment and wealth creation: The project will develop new technology of commercial value, plus expertise, to the HealthTech sector, resulting in employment and economic growth. Project-derived technology, IP and expertise will release R&D expenditure in the forms of industrial R&D (evaluation, product development) and/or private investment (e.g. angel, VC) to develop Lab-on-a-Stick products. Further research investment will follow from project findings in the form of grants from charities (Wellcome Trust, Gates Foundation) to develop dipstick microfluidic tests for worldwide unmet medical need in affordable testing and diagnostics (e.g. field clinic multi-infection dipstick tests). This investment will result in employment of researchers and tech transfer experts in both the private sector (HealthTech/Biotech) and Universities.
C Scientific and academic impact
The multi-disciplinary research outputs will enhance the UK's research reputation both through publication, and by developing translational applications of current world-class UK expertise in controlled release, materials science and low-cost microfluidics
Public health benefits
This project is the start of a program to ultimately deliver new diagnostic and microbial testing products based on Lab-on-a-Stick (LoS) technology with significant public health and patient benefits. The closest to market application (~2-3 years) will be simpler, faster tests replacing current microbiology tests saving QC lab costs in food/pharma manufacturing. Clinical products for diagnosis of bacterial infection in patients will follow (~4-6 years) providing faster pathogen identification with major health benefits including rapid diagnosis and accurate antibiotic selection resulting in faster recovery. Central to MCF technology is a low manufacturing cost, which will deliver more tests for less healthcare expenditure. Long term, a broader range of LoS tests (e.g. biomarker measurement) will be developed, delivering point-of-care clinical tests that cut waiting times for results, and improving diagnostic precision and thus health outcome through personalised medication. The LoS platform has global application in real-world diagnostics, offering low-cost rapid multiple assays tests (e.g. infection screening) that can be performed in a field clinic.
Public awareness of diagnostic technology innovation
There is a public perception of a need for faster, simpler and more accurate diagnostic testing; the public must therefore be made aware of ongoing research and innovation in testing technology. Public awareness of the simple but sophisticated LoS concept will be raised via media publicity following publication of project results.
B Economic impact
IP and technology commercialisation: Project findings will support commercial uptake of LoS technology and exploitation of background and arising IP, building value in UK technology (MCF film, LoS platform). The Point of Care and microbial testing markets are both >5Bn$ and rapidly growing. Commercialisation of IP will occur through evaluation, licensing, and product development either by existing microbial testing/diagnostic companies (e.g. Alere, Roche), or through startup Capillary Film Technology Ltd, as appropriate. In addition non-patentable expertise in affordable microfluidics will arise benefiting the Health Tech community via knowledge transfer. UK manufacturing SME Lamina Dielectrics will benefit from sales of the MCF they exclusively produce.
Expanding research capacity: The PI is establishing a track record in both low-cost microfluidics and in applied microbiology. These areas of expertise will be combined and expanded by the project in the critical field of microbiology testing. The project will also train a PDRA with broad interdisciplinary expertise, but also experience of innovation, technology transfer, industrial R&D, and research translation.
R&D investment, employment and wealth creation: The project will develop new technology of commercial value, plus expertise, to the HealthTech sector, resulting in employment and economic growth. Project-derived technology, IP and expertise will release R&D expenditure in the forms of industrial R&D (evaluation, product development) and/or private investment (e.g. angel, VC) to develop Lab-on-a-Stick products. Further research investment will follow from project findings in the form of grants from charities (Wellcome Trust, Gates Foundation) to develop dipstick microfluidic tests for worldwide unmet medical need in affordable testing and diagnostics (e.g. field clinic multi-infection dipstick tests). This investment will result in employment of researchers and tech transfer experts in both the private sector (HealthTech/Biotech) and Universities.
C Scientific and academic impact
The multi-disciplinary research outputs will enhance the UK's research reputation both through publication, and by developing translational applications of current world-class UK expertise in controlled release, materials science and low-cost microfluidics
Organisations
- University of Reading (Lead Research Organisation)
- Mahidol University (Collaboration)
- LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF READING (Collaboration)
- National Institute for Animal Biotechnology (Collaboration)
- Capillary Film Technology Limited (Collaboration)
- Lamina Dielectrics Ltd (Project Partner)
People |
ORCID iD |
| Alexander Edwards (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Barbosa AI
(2014)
A lab-in-a-briefcase for rapid prostate specific antigen (PSA) screening from whole blood.
in Lab on a chip
Barbosa AI
(2021)
Antibody Surface Coverage Drives Matrix Interference in Microfluidic Capillary Immunoassays.
in ACS sensors
Needs S
(2020)
Challenges in Microfluidic and Point-of-Care Phenotypic Antimicrobial Resistance Tests
in Frontiers in Mechanical Engineering
Needs SH
(2021)
Counting bacteria in microfluidic devices: Smartphone compatible 'dip-and-test' viable cell quantitation using resazurin amplified detection in microliter capillary arrays.
in Journal of microbiological methods
Reis NM
(2021)
Gravity-Driven Microfluidic Siphons: Fluidic Characterization and Application to Quantitative Immunoassays.
in ACS sensors
Reis NM
(2016)
Lab on a stick: multi-analyte cellular assays in a microfluidic dipstick.
in Lab on a chip
| Description | Following the completion of this project in summer 2015, at the point of reporting significant technical progress has been made, most of which was planned but with some additional insights. Specific achievements to date include: -robust confirmation of the capabilities of our new affordable microfluidic technology for bacterial detection and identification (fermentation and enzymatic assays, plus sensitive bacterial growth detection) -PCT filing of initial invention clearing the way for publication of new technology concept, and offering an opportunity for commercial exploitation. -Detailed understanding of how the underlying technology works, with an unexpectedly simple mechanism of reagent loading identified. -New and important microbiological applications of the new technology in the field of antimicrobial resistance identified and proof-of-concept that this application completed, specifically the ability to perform quantitative (MIC) and qualitative (antibiogram) antimicrobial resistance testing. -A side discovery was that coating process that we devloped could be potentially useful for other types of tests- such as blood tests- which led to further research. The major findings are partly published, with a major paper in summer 2016, a followup published in Feb 2017, and a second major publication in review. Major findings are continuing to be presented to potential industrial partners and clinical microbiology users. Possible investment into product development is in current discussion. |
| Exploitation Route | Our focus in the initial part of this project has been to complete the essential demonstrations of the new technology in the laboratory. Now that these technical demonstrations and scientific study has been completed, focus has now moved on to identifying the users of clinical and industrial applications of the new microfluidic dipstick microbiology testing platform. We will now not only use publications to generate academic interest, but also continue to present the technology concept to industrial and clinical audiences to generate user interest and hopefully develop partnerships to commercially and clinically develop products based on our technology. Possible industrial and clinical end-users are now involved with developing downstream applications of the technology. New products that exploit our underlying technology are currently in development, with prototyping and evaluation with simulated clinical samples ongoing in partnership with both clinical and industrial partners. |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Environment,Healthcare,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
| URL | http://www.reading.ac.uk/news-and-events/releases/PR693944.aspx |
| Description | Since completing the award in summer 2015 we have progressed beyond an initial focus of impact and commercialisation activities (i.e. patent filing, scientific publication, and studying the business opportunities for this technology). The major current activities include partnering discussions, product optimisation and prototyping, and starting to evaluate the technology in greater detail. A new patent application has been licensed to startup company Capillary Film Technology Ltd. This remains in examiniation by US patent office, but reached grant at EPO and the objection phase recently lapsed. This granted patent represents significant economic value to the UK life science industry of this research, although further commercial development is required for the full extent of economic impact to be defined and for products to be developed exploiting this IP. Beyond the initial focus of analytical microbiology for human infection, we have found potentially economically valuable further applications including in agriculture, to test for antimicrobial resistance arising from antibiotic use in dairy farming. Product devlopment has progressed from the initial proof of concept developed within this award, supported by further EPSRC and commercialisation funding. We engaged in an NHS-linked acellerator run by Oxford AHSN to explore how our technology could best be used within the NHS. We have created prototype laboratory and portable devices that could be used both in clinical diagnostics and in agriculture/veterinary applications. These prototypes have been presented to stakeholders in NHS and dairy industry, creating broad awareness of our technology and research in various non-academic sectors. We have also presented the technology platform to potential end-users in industry, including discussions with a major antibiotic testing company, providing opportunities for partnering. A second strand of impact relates to eventual clinical use of the technology, and discussions with clinical end users within the UK and overseas have been completed to identify where the technology could best benefit patients and the public. To a certain extent, this societal benefit will follow from commercial uptake and securing the required investment and time to deliver clinical products. For diagnostic products, a long regulatory and clinical testing pathway means the impact is expected in the future. An unexpected impact has arisen from our need to analyse multiple microfluidic devices created in this project. Through our subsequent EPSRC project (EP/R022410/1), we built a robotic analysis instrument compatible with the devices and technology developed in this award. This robotic lab instrument - termed POLIR - is an open source hardware system exploiting multiple previously published open source systems. Hence we published our own instrument designs, effectively making this new product available for anyone to build themselves. Further development and support is expected to follow to develop this new product/technology further. Once products developed using the technology arising from project research findings are disseminated to industry and clinical users of analytical microbiology technology, the economic and societal impact will become more clear. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2018 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Healthcare,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
| Impact Types | Economic |
| Description | CFT secondment 2015 |
| Amount | £43,196 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Capillary Film Technology Limited |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2015 |
| End | 02/2016 |
| Description | Confidence in Concept: Development of a Rapid, Low-Cost, Near Patient Microcapillary Fluidic Test for the Detection of CCHFV Antibodies |
| Amount | £44,721 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2020 |
| End | 12/2020 |
| Description | EPSRC GCRF Institutional award |
| Amount | £4,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2016 |
| End | 12/2016 |
| Description | Healthcare Technology Investigator Led |
| Amount | £486,238 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/R022410/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2018 |
| End | 12/2020 |
| Description | ICURE - Rapid high-throughput lab automation systems affordably produced on open sourced technology |
| Amount | £35,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Innovate UK |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2020 |
| End | 04/2020 |
| Description | Industry- CFT research project |
| Amount | £43,552 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Capillary Film Technology Limited |
| Sector | Private |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2015 |
| End | 02/2016 |
| Description | Newton Institutional LInks UK-Thailand GCRF British Council |
| Amount | £100,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | British Council |
| Department | British Council - Newton Fund |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2018 |
| End | 02/2019 |
| Description | Point-of-care antibiotic susceptibility testing to aid urinary tract infection treatment using dip-and test microcapillary devices |
| Amount | £1,027,344 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | NIHR203362 |
| Organisation | National Institute for Health Research |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2022 |
| End | 03/2025 |
| Description | Wellcome Trust Innovations Pathfinders |
| Amount | £100,645 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 204388/Z/16/Z |
| Organisation | Wellcome Trust |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2017 |
| End | 06/2018 |
| Description | Dengue Fever Research Unit, Bangkok, Thailand |
| Organisation | Mahidol University |
| Country | Thailand |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Findings from this project have significantly improved our microcapillary film devices, especially surrounding surface modifications of fluoropolymer film and imaging methods. This led to a new type of device for immunoassay detection of viral proteins. To use this new technology, we now collaborate with the world-leading Dengue Fever Unit at Siriraj Hospitol in Bangkok, Thailand. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Thai partners have developed advanced tests for detecting and monitoring disease during dengue virus infection, and we are evaluating together if their tests can be combined with our improved devices to deliver low cost, high performance new diagnostic tests that will help us combat this infection that threatens >5 billion annually, and places a massive burden on health systems accross the globe. |
| Impact | We generated vital early data showing proof of concept. This remains unpublished. We also secured joint Newton funding to take the findings further. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Evaluating microcapillary microbiology for antibiotic resistance testing of neglected tropical pathogens |
| Organisation | Mahidol University |
| Country | Thailand |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We have made and supplied batches of microcapillary antibiotic susceptibility tests. We discussed possible applications to the local clinical microbiology system in Thailand and wider in SE Asia. We planned preliminary experiments that will establish a pilot data set that will help us to better plan longer-term evaluations and adoption studies. We also visited to test out the technology in March 2022, allowing us to better understand their needs as well as showing them how our technology works and what it offers. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Our partners, including our lead co-I Dr Narisara Chantratita at Department of Microbiology and Immunology, are leading experts in bacterial infections, especially those causing neglected tropical diseases such as meloidosis. They have studied the antibiotic resistance of such microbes and are involved in important survillance for drug-resistant infection. Their contribution is to assess if our technology might be useful to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in a global health setting- one of the real Grand Challenges for public health in the next decades. |
| Impact | To date, the main outcome is the evaluation of our novel microcapillary microbiology testing system in an external microbiology unit. This has taken the form of two pilot experimental evaluations: firstly, checking the technology works in an external microbiology lab in Bangkok with similar microbes to those already tested previously in Reading; secondly, the technology will be evaluated using important neglected tropical pathogens. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Industry collaboration- Capillary Film Technology Ltd |
| Organisation | Capillary Film Technology Limited |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We conduct fundamental research into analytical applications, and physicochemical properties, of micro capillary film. This material is being commercially developed for diagnostic applications by Capillary Film Technology Ltd (CFT). Note: I am a co-founder and Director of CFT. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Capillary Film Technology (CFT) is developing point of care diagnostic products that are based upon fundamental technology development in my research group. CFT is also conducting clinical need research to understand what the most important clinical and commercial applications for micro capillary film are. CFT's employees conduct lab research on micro capillary film immunoassays, which contributes to our understanding of this novel assay technology platform. |
| Impact | Our two latest research papers contain contributions from CFT employees. |
| Start Year | 2012 |
| Description | Milk Guard- mastitis testing in India |
| Organisation | National Institute for Animal Biotechnology |
| Country | India |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Provided expertise in rapid antibiotic susceptibility testing technology, suitable to tackling antimicrobial resistance arising through agricultural use of antibiotics. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Expertise in animal and veterinary microbiology in India, especially antimicrobial resistance. |
| Impact | Together we developed a prototype kit for rapid determination of antibiotic resistance in bacteria causing mastitis infection in cattle in India. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Milk Guard- mastitis testing in India |
| Organisation | University of Reading |
| Department | School of Agriculture, Policy and Development Reading |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Provided expertise in rapid antibiotic susceptibility testing technology, suitable to tackling antimicrobial resistance arising through agricultural use of antibiotics. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Expertise in animal and veterinary microbiology in India, especially antimicrobial resistance. |
| Impact | Together we developed a prototype kit for rapid determination of antibiotic resistance in bacteria causing mastitis infection in cattle in India. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Nuno Reis |
| Organisation | Loughborough University |
| Department | Department of Chemical Engineering |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This is an equal collaboration with major contributions in both directions. My research team has pioneered the biological and clinical aspects of our new microfluidic testing technology. |
| Collaborator Contribution | This is an equal collaboration with major contributions in both directions. Our partner has contributed expertise in fluidics, device engineering, physical chemistry. |
| Impact | Our multi-discpilinary collaboration brings life sciences together with physical and engineering science. Outcomes include publications, IP and formation of spinout company (CFT Ltd). |
| Start Year | 2008 |
| Title | CAPILLARY ASSAY DEVICE WITH INTERNAL HYDOPHYLIC COATING |
| Description | The present invention provides assay devices having a unitary body with an exterior surface, the unitary body being substantially transparent to visible light and formed from a material having a refractive index in the range 1.26 to 1.40, the refractive index being measured at 20 °C with light of wavelength 589 nm, and wherein the unitary body is formed from a hydrophobic material, and at least two capillary bores extending internally along the unitary body, wherein at least a portion of the surface of each capillary bore includes a hydrophilic layer for retaining an assay reagent, and wherein the hydrophilic layer is also substantially transparent to visible light to allow optical interrogation of the capillary bores through the capillary wall. The present invention also provides assay systems including such assay devices, methods of performing an assay using such assay devices and method of method for manufacturing such assay devices. |
| IP Reference | WO2016012778 |
| Protection | Patent application published |
| Year Protection Granted | 2016 |
| Licensed | Yes |
| Impact | Securing investment in R&D. |
| Title | CFTGRAV |
| Description | This diagnostic product will allow low skilled technicians to perform critical diagnostic tests- such as IgM and IgG serology- easily without specialist laboratory equipment to perform vital screening of large numbers of patients in a developing world healthcare setting. |
| Type | Diagnostic Tool - Non-Imaging |
| Current Stage Of Development | Refinement. Non-clinical |
| Year Development Stage Completed | 2015 |
| Development Status | Actively seeking support |
| Impact | There are economic impacts of developing this product, through partnership between UK startup CFT Ltd, and an overseas diagnostics partner. Details cannot be disclosed at this point in time due to commercial confidentiality. |
| Title | CFTPOC |
| Description | We have developed with spinout CFT Ltd a novel microfluidic testing platform that can perform highly sensitive rapid tests at the point of blood sampling. Based on micro capillary film technology developed by our research group, CFT is now bringing a first point-of-care testing product family. Early in 2016 CFT will launch a beta-prototype of this product, with a pre-production prototype expected to be ready for clinical testing late in 2016. Our first product will measure high sensitivity cardiac troponin, for rapid detection of myocardial infarct. Future products are planned with multiple biomarkers measured as a panel, allowing improved diagnostic sensitivity and specificity. |
| Type | Diagnostic Tool - Non-Imaging |
| Current Stage Of Development | Initial development |
| Year Development Stage Completed | 2015 |
| Development Status | Under active development/distribution |
| Impact | A major impact is economic. The development process within spinout company CFT Ltd is building commercial value, with CFT's value passing various increments as the technology concept is developed into a full product prototype. Technological capability and performance is being demonstrating increasing the value of background IP, and new IP is being developed and protected. Health tech experts are being employed and developing new skills in this vital sector to our economy. |
| URL | https://www.capfilmtech.com |
| Title | Manual Smartphone Microcapillary Dengue Serotyping ELISA 19 |
| Description | Description of diagnostic product Current/most recent stage of development We were able to cover two key product development stages, as outlined in Researchfish documentation 1) Refine for Safety / Manufacturability /Deployability - Non-Clinical "Diagnostic Tool:Develop assay suited to target clinical setting" 2) Refine for Safety / Manufacturability /Deployability - Clinical "Diagnostic Tool:Establish assay parameters on clinical samples" We were through this study able to answer the key question "Diagnostic Tool: Does the assay meet performance requirements?" We expect to be able to formally confirm that this diagnostic product meets performance requirements at the end of the extended project, once the detailed data analysis is completed. This will be disseminated via a key publication. Development sources of funding Our Institutional Links IL6 award Device prototypes, assays, and optimisation for clinical use was developed most recently through Institutional Links IL6 award, in partnership with partners in Thailand. This particular device configuration benefits from development of hydrophilic coatings to our microcapillaries developed in the past through completed EPSRC "Lab-on-a-Stick" grant. The device development was also supported in the past by a Wellcome Trust Pathfinder award. |
| Type | Diagnostic Tool - Non-Imaging |
| Current Stage Of Development | Refinement. Clinical |
| Year Development Stage Completed | 2019 |
| Development Status | Under active development/distribution |
| Impact | The development process has helped us build an ongoing and effective collaboration between the University of Reading and Madihol University, Bangkok, Thailand. |
| Company Name | Capillary Film Technology Ltd |
| Description | Capillary Film Technology Ltd (CFT) is a technology and product development company for life sciences and clinical diagnostics. CFT is able to bring a disruptive manufacturing technique for the production of low-cost multiplex microfluidic material. Using exclusive know-how and IP, we are currently developing the next generation of lateral flow technology that allows rapid, fully quantitative multiplex immunoassays for field and bed-side/point-of-care use. |
| Year Established | 2012 |
| Impact | Main activities to date are technology development, and presentation to industrial and clinical users of diagnostic technology including at international trade fairs and through academic health science network events. In 2014, CFT secured SBRI Healthcare funding, which resulted in employment of 2 full time research scientists. IN 2015, CFT secured a further £1M SBRI Healthcare funding, which resulted in employment of 3 full time research scientists, one 0.6 FTE business development employee, and significant subcontracted research in the NIHR DEC london and product development to EG Technology Ltd. In addition, CFT has secured significant private investment (commercially confidential sum). CFT also licenses IP including IP partially derived from an EPSRC-funded project. |
| Website | http://www.capfilmtech.com/ |
| Company Name | OBJECT BIO LTD |
| Description | Object Bio is a new company founded in 2020 to develop flexible analytical instrumentation designed to study microfluidic devices such as microfluidic microbiology. As a new startup, only incorporated in 2020, Object Bio has yet to publish a web page and it is too early to include further details. |
| Year Established | 2020 |
| Impact | Object Bio was incorporated in 2020 and it is therefore too early to describe any impacts. |
| Description | AACC trade fair Chicago 2014 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | We had over 150 international delegates, mostly senior technical representetives in the diagnostics industry, visit our booth and see practical demonstrations of the new technology. We distributed over 100 copies of a technology summary document and a recent publication from our research group. We are now in discussion with around 10 possible future partners who we met . |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| URL | http://www.aacc.org/events/2014_annual_meeting/exhibitors/pages/default.aspx |
| Description | Biotrinity 2015 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Presented 2x posters at UK innovation showcase at Biotrinity 2015 biotech investment event, as part of Oxford AHSN event. Audience of posters included life science investors, senior health tech and pharmaceutical industry execs, and clinical innovators. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://www.obn.org.uk/events/biotrinity-2015-london/ |
| Description | DSTL 2015 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I presented capabilities and potential of our microfluidic testing technology to defence technology experts at DSTL at Porton Down, with a view to identifying military and bio defence applications of this technology both in biowarfare agent detection but also in emerging pathogen testing. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| Description | Maker and open source activities |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | We publicized our work on new technology for accelerating microbiological testing through high-profile blogs targetting the hardware/software development community. Blog posts at two very popular and influential sites- Hackaday and Raspberrypi.org blog featured in great detail our open source robotic system for analyzing microfluidic microbiology. The purpose of this activity was to highlight the power of technology that is rapidly developing for other purposes (e.g. consumer electronics) to solve healthcare problems. This is important to cross disciplines and share how robotics and optoelectronics can be utilised in healthcare to solve major global health problems. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019,2020 |
| URL | https://www.raspberrypi.org/blog/raspberry-pi-vs-antibiotic-resistance-microbiology-imaging-with-ope... |
| Description | News about minaturisation of lab tests for antibiotic resistance |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Following latest publication, a press release from the Universities of Reading and Loughborough about our research was picked up by regional BBC broadcasters and various web news outlets including ITV news |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://www.reading.ac.uk/news-and-events/releases/PR693944.aspx |
| Description | OBN Biotuesday presentation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Talk sparked questions and discussion afterwards from investors, health tech engineers, and industry representatives (SMEs and multinationals). After my talk several industry experts got in touch by email to discuss possible co-development or partnering. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
| URL | http://www.obn.org.uk/events/obn-biotuesday-diagnostics-precision-oxford-2/ |
| Description | Public awareness of coronavirus SARS-CoV2 diagnostic testing and test technology |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | In response to specific media and public queries about diagnostic testing relating to the 2019-20 COVID-19 outbreak/pandemic, engaged in a wide range of media enquiries including supporting reporters in understanding developments especially around diagnostic testing procedures, in live and pre-recorded interviews, in short videos, and in written comment. Coverage ranged from mainstream national prime-time TV (e.g. This Morning on ITV) through specialist (e.g. BBC World Service health podcast) to local (BBC Radio Berkshire) and included expert comment as well as answering public questions especially around diagnostic testing. Examples of coverage in Feb-Mar 2020 include: 11 Feb: The Times and iNews quote Dr Al Edwards (Pharmacy) on the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus. 14 Feb: Dr Al Edwards (Pharmacy) was interviewed on BBC World Service about a virus test system he is working on. 17 Feb: Continued coverage of novel coronavirus globally includes comment and analysis by University of Reading researchers, including Dr Al Edwards (Pharmacy) talking about screening techniques on BBC World Service and BBC Radio 4. 18 Feb: Dr Al Edwards (Pharmacy) was on BBC Radio 4 and BBC World Service about a test he is working on that will tell people if they had the virus, even if they didn't display any symptoms. 3 Mar: Dr Al Edwards (Pharmacy) also spoke to BBC Radio Berkshire about the challenge of developing a vaccine. 9 Mar: Dr Al Edwards (Pharmacy) spoke to Sky News following the news that the first death of a patient diagnosed with Covid-19 in the UK happened at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading. 10 Mar: Dr Al Edwards (Pharmacy) was interviewed on BBC News Channel on the latest cases of the coronavirus and measures the UK might take to prevent it from spreading. 11 Mar: Dr Al Edwards (Pharmacy) spoke to ITV This Morning (https://youtu.be/VRlO-LwKJVA), and Channel 4 News answering questions about Covid-19. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | http://www.reading.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/news-2020.aspx |