Three Licensing Opportunities
Researchers at Imperial College London have developed three new technologies which are available for licensing through the technology transfer office, Imperial Innovations. The first invention is a new class of low voltage electrowetting systems used for making devices such as barcode readers and medical applications. The second development is the improved production of nanoparticles to create uniform nanoparticles at a greater yield and at lower cost, and the third is the development of a new compound to treat neuropathic pain based on an endogenous cannabinoid.
Low voltage electrowetting
Scientists from Imperial College London have developed a new class of electrowetting systems which requires voltages 10 to 100 times smaller than existing devices, whilst exhibiting faster response. This promises to improve the longevity, power consumption, reliability, and ease of construction of electrowetting devices, and increase the range of application of these devices.
Electrowetting is a known effect which involves changing the shape of a liquid interface by applying a voltage. This effect is currently being exploited in technologies such as microfluidic devices and variable- focus lenses for webcams, barcode readers, biometrics readers, medical applications such as endoscopes, and promises many further developments such as optical switches and novel optical displays. All current electrowetting technologies employ a fundamentally similar effect.
Application Features
Current electrowetting devices employ the interface formed between an ionically- conductive and a non-conductive liquid. Unfortunately, using a non-conductive liquid means that relatively high operating voltages are required to achieve the electrowetting effect - typically of the order of tens or hundreds of volts. These voltages create problems such as irreversable electrochemical reactions which degrade the chemical constituents of the devices and thus shorten their operational lifetime. A consequence of this is the need for additional insulating layers in the device construction, and this, in turn, pushes up the required operating voltage.
This invention concerns a new class of electrowetting systems employing two immiscible ionically-conductive liquids. The major advantage of this design is that the electrowetting effect can be achieved with potential differences of less than one volt, which has significant advantages for device construction. In addition, there is a supplementary invention which allows improvement in reproducibility and speed of operation by purely electrical means.
Benefits
Reducing the operational voltage has several benefits, including:
- Easier power supply and reduced power consumption; device operation from 0 to 1v.
- Improved device lifetime, resulting from reduced electrochemical degradation and harmful side reactions (e.g. fewer ‘stuck’ pixels)
- Simplified device design: no need for insulating coatings on electrodes
- Faster switching time
- Greater reproducibility
- Easier power supply and reduced power consumption
Target Market
This technology will be of benefit to a wide range of technologies utilizing electrically controlled variable optics requiring fast operation. It may be particularly advantageous for portable consumer devices, where low operation voltages would allow efficient miniaturization of the entire device, and potentially lower power consumption. Example applications include autofocus lenses for cameras & mobile phones and alternatives to small LCD, LED and OLED displays.
Licence Opportunity
A patent has been filed and proof of principle demonstrated. Interest would be welcome from potential industrial partners looking to develop or licence this technology.
Ref no: 4157
Monodisperse Nanoparticle Production
Nanoparticles are of great scientific and commercial interest for a number of reasons. Uniformly-sized (‘monodisperse’) nanoparticles are of particular interest, since the properties of nano-structured materials depend strongly on particle size. However, to date the commercial application of nanoparticles has been hindered by slow, complex and inefficient production methods. This procedure offers a new, effective and robust method for synthesising nanoparticles of well-defined size, which will greatly assist the exploitation of nanoscale phenomena.
Features
Current methods of producing uniform nanoparticles are suitable for small-scale production in a research environment, but are ill-suited to large-scale production owing to their low product yield and their complexity. Typically, conventional nanoparticle synthesis produces a range of particle sizes, which must then be followed by a time-consuming recrystallisation step to sort particles by size. This intellectual property concerns a generic process that can produce pure, defect-free, monodisperse nanoparticles in a single step.
Key to the process is a continually-replenished, miniature, microfluidic reactor. The reduced reaction volume of the reaction vessel allows rapid mixing of the reactants (via a diffusive process) and ensures chemical and temperature homogeneity.
Other parameters (e.g. optical illumination) can also be regulated. Controlling these conditions reduces variations in crystalline size, thus allowing direct production of uniform nanoparticles without recourse to subsequent recrystallisations.
The design also allows for efficient recycling of unreacted reagents. Quality is assured by using control software and an in-line spectrometer to monitor the emergent particles.
The process can be used for producing uniform particles of a number of compounds, including metals, metal oxides, sulfides, selenides and compound semiconductors.
Benefits
The major benefit of this technique is the production of more uniform nanoparticles at greater yields, thus giving higher quality at lower cost. This should be of advantage to anyone wishing to produce nanoparticles in significant quantities. Example applications of monodisperse nanomaterials include:
- Compound semiconductor quantum dots for fluorescent biotagging
- Carbon nanotube-based field emission displays and nanocomposites for shielding applications
- Aligned arrays of ZnO nanorod photo-pumped lasers
- Biosensors for diagnosing prostate cancer based on doped-Sinanowires
- MoS2 nanotubes for intrinsically-safe Li-ion battery electrodes
- Gold nano-shells for controlled drug delivery
Licence Opportunity, Collaboration
A patent has been granted in the
Ref no: 2032
Novel Neuropathic Pain Therapeutic
Neuropathic or chronic pain is an area of high unmet medical need. Imperial Innovations is developing a novel pain therapeutic based on an endogenous cannabinoid to meet this need. The compound has shown equivalent efficacy to the marketed neuropathic pain compound Gabapentin in 3 different models of neuropathic pain. In addition the compound has been demonstrated to attenuate the behavioural impact of neuropathic pain in models.
The lead compound is based on an endogenous cannabinoid that was sold as an orally bioavaible anti-inflammatory and anti-infective. Our patent covers the compounds and their use to treat both neuropathic and inflammatory pain.
The compound may be amenable to clinical development. However prior to being given to man there are a battery of pre-clinical tests that will have to be carried out. These include toxicity and pharmacological studies to characterise the molecule more fully.
Licence, Commercial
In the first instance this is viewed as a licensing opportunity given the dearth of products in this area. However Imperial Innovations would consider bundling this technology with other appropriate products to create a robust new venture.
IP Position & Scope
The patent application covers a variety of
analogues that may also be suitable for further development. The application is
currently in National Phase prosecution in a variety of territories including
Europe and the
Imperial Innovations
Imperial Innovations is one of the
The company’s integrated approach encompasses the identification of ideas, protection of intellectual property, development and licensing of technology and formation, incubation and investment in technology businesses. A wide range of technologies are commercialised within the areas of healthcare, energy, environment and emerging technology trends.
Based at Imperial College London, the
company has established equity holdings in 70 technology businesses and has
completed 116 commercial agreements. Imperial Innovations also commercialises
technologies originating from outside
Rated as the world’s fifth best university in the 2007 Times Higher Education Supplement University Rankings, Imperial College London is a science-based institution with a reputation for excellence in teaching and research that attracts over 12,000 students and 6,000 staff of the highest international quality.
Innovative research at the College explores the interface between science, medicine, engineering and management and delivers practical solutions that improve quality of life and the environment - underpinned by a dynamic enterprise culture.
With 66 Fellows of the Royal Society among our current academic staff and distinguished past members of the College including 14 Nobel Laureates and two Fields Medallists, Imperial’s contribution to society has been immense. Inventions and innovations include the discovery of penicillin, the development of holography and the foundations of fibre optics. This commitment to the application of our research for the benefit of all continues today with current focuses including interdisciplinary collaborations to tackle climate change and mathematical modelling to predict and control the spread of infectious diseases.
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