Project description DEENESFRITPL Extracting, separating and detecting micropollutants in one simple step Sample preparation is the most difficult step in an analysis. Current methods used to extract and separate miniscule substances in liquid samples are laborious, time-consuming and costly. They also often involve the use of toxic solvents. The EU-funded NanoEX project intends to develop a novel sample preparation technique that could overcome these shortcomings. It will achieve this by means of a surface nanodroplet-based sensing approach for liquid-liquid extraction and online analysis of traces of analytes in aqueous solutions. The proposed approach, referred to as nanoextraction, can potentially extract, separate and detect micropollutants in one easy step. Owing to its ease of use and small scale, the technology has the potential to improve state-of-the-art solutions available in current markets. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective Sample preparation is considered to be the most difficult step in analytic workflow. Current methods for extraction andseparation of minute substances in liquid samples are laborious, time-consuming, often involve large amounts of toxicorganic solvents, and are often difficult to automatize, implying high costs of man-power. An innovative sample preparationtechnique which has the potential to overcome these shortcomings will be developed in this project. Based on the firstpromising results in the ERC-AdG project DDD, we propose a surface nanodroplet-based sensing approach for liquid-liquidextraction and online analysis of traces of analytes in aqueous solutions, including in biomedical, health, pharmaceutical andenvironmental contexts. The basis of our approach, referred to as nanoextraction, will be surface nanodroplets pre-formedon a substrate within a microflow channel. The principle of the nanoextraction is that the partition coefficient of the compoundin the droplets is much higher than in the sample solution. The compound in the flow will thus be extracted to thenanodroplets that are immobilized on the channel walls. The concentration of the compound in the droplets will be quantifiedby surface-sensitive spectroscopic techniques. Our proposed approach can potentially achieve extraction-separation-detectionof analytes at extremely low concentrations in one single and simple step. The ability to achieve extraction-separation-detection of micropollutants in one single step is creating new and unique market opportunities which we want toexplore. First, the technology can improve the state-of-the-art solutions in current markets, because of the easy usage andthe small scale, thus saving time and costs. Second, we foresee new markets for the method, due to the higher sensitivityand point-of-care character of the solution. Our final goal in this project is to create a solid and investor-ready business plan,supported by a prototype. Keywords droplet microfluidics droplets microextraction lab on a chip diffusion Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme Topic(s) ERC-2019-POC - ERC Proof of Concept Grant Call for proposal ERC-2019-PoC See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-POC - Proof of Concept Grant Host institution UNIVERSITEIT TWENTE Net EU contribution € 60 000,00 Address DRIENERLOLAAN 5 7522 NB Enschede Netherlands See on map Region Oost-Nederland Overijssel Twente Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost No data Beneficiaries (2) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all UNIVERSITEIT TWENTE Netherlands Net EU contribution € 60 000,00 Address DRIENERLOLAAN 5 7522 NB Enschede See on map Region Oost-Nederland Overijssel Twente Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost No data THE GOVERNORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA Canada Net EU contribution € 90 000,00 Address 1-560 ENTERPRISE SQUARE 10230 JASPER AVENUE RESEARCH SERVICES OFFICE T5J 4P6 EDMONTON ALBERTA See on map Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost No data