BIOACTIVE PAPER RESEARCH TEAM DEVELOPS BIOSENSOR THAT CAN DETECT HARMFUL TOXINS

Monday, July 13, 2009 - 10:31AM

Canadian bioactive paper research team develops biosensor that can detect harmful toxins

July 13, 2009 - Hamilton, Ontario – SENTINEL Bioactive Paper Network researchers working to develop inexpensive paper that can destroy, deactivate and detect deadly pathogens announced today that it has developed novel inkjet-printed biosensors that quickly and easily detect two test neurotoxins. The paper-based sensors provided reproducible results, after storage at 4º C for two months, showing the system is suitable for storage and use in the field.

In a paper published in the July 1 issue of Analytical Chemistry, John Brennan and his research team at McMaster University describe a method for printing a toxin-detecting biosensor on paper using FUJIFILM Dimatix Materials Printer. The paper entitled, “Development of a Bioactive Paper Sensor for Detection of Neurotoxins Using Piezoelectric Inkjet Printing of Sol-Gel-Derived Bioinks,” has demonstrated that inkjet deposition is a simple, portable and cost-effective method of adhering biochemical reagents to paper. The research team has brought the concept of bioactive paper a significant step closer to commercialization.

Researchers demonstrated the concept on the detection of acetylcholinestrerase (AChE) inhibitors such as paraoxon (nerve gas agent) and aflatoxin B1 (mycotoxin harmful to humans and animals) on paper using a “lateral flow” sensing approach similar to that used in a home pregnancy test strip.

“This research represents the first report published on the utilization of piezoelectric inkjet printing in the development of sol-gel based paper biosensors,” said John Brennan, Ph.D., SENTINEL’s lead researcher on this project and faculty member in the Department of Chemistry at McMaster University. “Our research shows that inkjet printing provides a new platform for fabricating bioactive paper strips that can detect a range of biohazards that affect animals and humans,” said Dr. Brennan.

Portable bio-sensing papers are expected to be extremely useful in monitoring environmental and food-based toxins, as well as in remote settings in less industrialized countries where simple bioassays are essential for the first stages of detecting disease.

“FUJIFILM Dimatix is glad to participate as an industry partner of the SENTINEL Bioactive Paper Network and to provide technical support to its researchers in using the Dimatix Materials Printer for a purpose that has both practical and pressing application,” said Martin Schoeppler, President of FUJIFILM Dimatix.

SENTINEL Bioactive Paper Network researchers represent 11 Canadian universities, industry and government partners. SENTINEL was formed in 2005 with $7.5-million in funding over five years from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. Another $3-million has been contributed by collaborating partners. McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario hosts SENTINEL’s administrative centre. For more information about bioactive paper visit www.sentinelbioactivepaper.com and to read the full Analytical Chemistry paper visit.

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Contact information: Jill Wright, communications for SENTINEL Bioactive Paper Network 519.851.3896, jill@tkx.ca

or

Gene Nakonechny, McMaster University communications,905.525.9140 ext. 26781, genen@mcmaster.ca

or

Edward Chrusciel, FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc., 603.443.5364, echrusciel@dimatix.com


With combined files from Sentinel, McMaster University and FUJIFILM Dimatix

Topic: media releases