"The main objective of the NanoScreen project was to bring to market a portable technique based on nano-optical sensing chip for in-situ monitoring and simultaneous detection (multiplexing) of the most harmful organic compounds used in EU. The most important features we wanted to employ in technology are: applicability in diverse liquid matrices water/milk/food, an inexpensive price, instant detection response, and easy use compared to current methods.
The working protocol has involved the adaptation of the main topics in Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), such as the Plasmon Technology and Hot Spots, to the building of feasible sensing chips to be highly sensitive and selective for the detection of various organic targets (POPs/pesticides/drugs/toxins).
The patented PickMolTM sensing chip (PCT/IB2018/060065) pertains to the structure of a portable nano-optical chip based on the principle of generating of plasmons and the modification of a plasmonic nanoparticle surface. The nano-optical chip detects very low concentrations (ppb level) of POPs/pesticides/drugs/toxins in the environment (water and milk) even in multiplexing mode (more than one molecule simultaneously). To assure a high level of reproducibility of measurements, other components of the PickMolTM technology were developed: PickMolTM RAMASCOPE (tailored detection system), PickMolTM App/sw (software) and PickMolTM database (database of recently detected molecules). The “PickMolTM technology” was recently validated in a certified laboratory (RECETOX, Brno, Czech Republic).
Exploitation and Dissemination
The SAFTRA photonics exhibited PickMolTM technology on different industrial exhibitions (Kuala Lumpur, Shanghai, Philadelphia). We have offered hands-on presentation of the ultra-fast and high-sensitive PickMolTM screening of the water quality. The demonstration of our own detection system, PickMolTM RAMASCOPE and PickMolTM control & evaluation software, has been performed. Numerous face to face meetings with potential suppliers & distributors or next customers took place. With some of them we have established cooperation or communication with the aim to prepare business contracts.
With the ambition to make the pollution monitoring more affordable for developing countries and address the detection of various organic pollutants, SAFTRA photonics was honored to exhibit at the United Nations high-profile event in Geneva. The bi-annual meetings of the conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions took place in May 2019. PickMolTM technology by SAFTRA photonics was as one of the three selected private providers to showcase their solutions in an information fair.
SAFTRA photonics prevailed in several technology competitions with the PickMolTM technology (Start-up awards 2017, Bratislava, Slovakia, Vodafone idea INVESTOR PRIZE, Prague, Czech Republic 2018, EIC Procter&Gamble Pitching Contest, Brussels 2018).
The website of the SAFTRA photonics (
https://saftra-photonics.org/(si apre in una nuova finestra)) is updated regularly with an exception of the relevant confidential documents. With a development of completely new line of products covered by „PickMolTM technology“, we have registered a new domain for our product
http://db.pickmol.tech/#/(si apre in una nuova finestra).
Intensive contacts have been started with various investors. We can conclude that SAFTRA photonics has already entered the monitoring analysis market!"
