Royal Society Brian Mercer Award for Innovation 2008 (nanotechnology) - Dr Nelson

Dr Andrew Nelson, School of Chemistry, University of Leeds On-line Nanotoxicity Sensors Based on Modification of Biomembrane Organisation Dr Nelsons research into the structure, organisation and fluidity of model biological membranes has led to the creation of a novel toxicity sensor which can be used to detect biomembrane active nanoparticles in water. This sensor is a chip-based platform consisting of a phospholipid layer on a mercury electrode, which is disrupted in the presence of these potentially toxic particles. The amount of mercury used is on a small scale in order to reduce the toxic hazard without compromising performance. The Mercer Award will be used to develop the sensor further to create a means of continuously monitoring water for biomembrane active nanoparticles and other toxins. Current available technologies do not allow for this type of continuous assessment and therefore Dr Nelsons sensor will prove extremely valuable to the water industry for the measurement of organic contaminants. The technology also has a range of other applications in the pharmaceutical and defence industries. Uploaded 22-05-09 More at http://royalsociety.org/grants/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices