Project R-8228

Environmental carbonaceous particle detection: a gap in the market? (Research)

Within a collaboration between UHasselt research groups (BIOMED, CMK) and KU Leuven, a method has been developed to detect (ultra) fine carbon particles in an optical and label-free way. This type of particles comes into the environment as a result of incomplete combustion, e.g. diesel soot. With this new approach assays can be performed on human body biopsies comprising both tissues and blood and urine. Most importantly, this allows for an individual determination of personal exposure to (ultra)fine carbon particles that was previously not possible. The patent application for the new method of determination is pending and the proof of principle has been published in leading journals. Within the project, market research will be performed and a prototype of a device will be developed that is needed for commercialization of the invention. The impact of the (ultra) fine carbon particles on health is very severe so that it is expected that there will be considerable interest in this new technique.

01 November 2017 - 31 December 2019