Project description
Groundbreaking technique makes mass spectroscopy efficient, cost-effective and sample-saving
Mass spectrometry is a widely used analytical tool integral to industries such as biotechnology, pharmaceutics and environmental analysis. However, a significant drawback is its destructive nature, which leads to permanent sample loss, making it less suitable for analysing expensive or rare samples. The ERC-funded PICODROP-MS project pioneered a new mass spectrometry technology that uses picolitre droplets to substantially reduce sample consumption by over 4 000 times. This innovation enhances cost-effectiveness and productivity, offering over 99.9 % savings on sample costs and significant staff time reductions. As it is environmentally friendly, it enables the analysis of previously unfeasible scarce samples, potentially accelerating drug discovery and yielding health benefits. The goal is to establish this as the preferred method in mass spectrometry.
Objective
Mass spectrometry (MS) is a widely applied analytical tool underpinning important commercial sectors like biotechnology, pharmaceutics, and environmental analysis. A significant drawback is that the analysis is destructive, resulting in irretrievable sample loss and making MS nonideal when sample is expensive or scarce. We pioneered a technology capable of reducing the amount of sample consumed during MS by >4000 times compared to the existing state-of-the-art by using picolitre (10^-12 L) droplets. Because these sample volumes are so small, our technology will significantly accelerate otherwise time-consuming preparative chemistry, benefitting end users in the above-mentioned sectors. Anticipated commercial benefits include improved cost-effectiveness and increased productivity gains arising from >99.9% cost savings on samples and substantial cost savings on staff time. The commercial adoption of our technology will lead to new services and increased sales by enabling analysis of samples too scarce for current technologies. The considerable reduction in sample consumption will provide environmental benefits, and the capability to accelerate e.g. the drug discovery process may yield health benefits. Consequently, our picodroplet MS technology has the potential to become the method of choice for a diverse range of MS end users. To achieve these envisioned impacts, we will develop relationships with key industrial stakeholders in the analytical instrumentation sector and, building on our recent patent application, advance our IPR strategy by evaluating market and licensee requirements. We will engage directly with leading MS end users to quantify the benefits of our technology in the important application areas of reaction discovery, biomolecular analysis, and environmental sampling. This PoC will facilitate comprehensive evaluation of our technology’s strengths relative to competitors and maximise its commercial potential.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques.
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Programme(s)
- HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-ERC-POC - HORIZON ERC Proof of Concept GrantsHost institution
BS8 1QU Bristol
United Kingdom