a microfluidic capillary-based sensor technology for vitamin analysis

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This proposal is to support a market assessment of recently-developed microfluidic sensor technology for vitamin D3 diagnostics. The sensor is based on fluorescent microcapillaries and related microstructures that are produced using a method we developed for coating materials with a layer of light-emitting nanocomposite material. Essentially, the interior (channel) wall of the capillary becomes an efficient light-emitter, when excited with a blue laser or light-emitting diode. In this technology, when fluids containing vitamin D3 (or, 25(OH)D) are passed through the capillary, the emitted fluorescence changes measurably, forming the basis of the sensing mechanism. The structure has many attractive characteristics, one of which is that virtually any fluid, even viscous ones such as soy oil (a common solvent for vit D3 in edible capsules), can be pumped through and measured. Thus, one can envision many possible applications for such a sensor for vitamin analysis in which small fluid quantities must be measured. This proposal requests funding for a market assessment of this technology.