Innovative technology for advanced bio-sensing
Ever increasing regulations for bio-safety have created new demands on detection methodologies and analytical tools. Apart from food and pharmaceutical industries, waste processing and environmental protection processes require inexpensive and fast sensing techniques. In comparison to the amperometric sensors, fibre-optic sensors are considered more advantageous in terms of sensitivity and speed. Yet, the highly specialised components used and the expertise required for their assembly has rendered these sensors difficult to provide at competitive prices. Urged by this, the MATINOES project focused on the realisation of innovative enzyme based fibre-optic sensors for applications in biotechnological production processes. The novel sensors are suitable for in-situ, continuous monitoring of reactants, such as glucose, fructose and glycerol under harsh reaction conditions. One of the new optical sensor systems employs fluorescence for on-line monitoring of bio-reactions. The prototype, using either an intrinsic or an extrinsic sensor probe, has been extensively tested in a laboratory biotechnological reactor and under real biotechnological industrial scale processes. The sensor was shown to present a good system response, high sensitivity and resolution. Apart from the one-channel, the sensor may also be a multi-channel system which is able to detect a few different analytes. The advanced sensor is offered for various types of collaboration.
