Development of breathalyzer biosensor for cannabis detection**

生物传感器是由附着于传感器表面的生物分子组成的分析装置，其特异性结合目标分析物分子;在结合时，生物化学信号然后通过换能器转换为电信号，产生简单的信号读出，例如“是”或“否”。生物传感器的发展结合了先进的纳米技术与生物识别的基本原理，目的是开发新的传感器和设备，用于药物测试，食品安全和环境控制。该项目的主要目标是在SannTek Labs和滑铁卢大学Leonenko博士的实验室之间建立合作，目的是确定用于开发大麻呼吸测醉传感器设备的最佳生物传感协议，这将允许快速简单地测试空气（呼吸）以识别大麻的存在。Leonenko博士的实验室拥有生物物理学、纳米技术方面的专业知识，并领导了NSERC资助的生物传感器开发研究项目。SannTek Labs是一家快速发展的高性能创业公司，总部位于滑铁卢大学的Velocity创业计划，目标是建立并将其第一个创新产品推向市场，即用于大麻检测的呼气测醉器设备。两个小组的互补专业知识和努力将结合起来，以实现SannTek大麻呼气测醉仪的成功开发，并且在该项目中获得的协议将立即纳入传感器开发以供生产。** 大麻测试设备是加拿大迫切需要的产品。这种传感器设备将大大有助于和改善药物测试程序，因此它将有助于所有加拿大人的安全，帮助吸毒者远离道路和危险活动。

Biosensors are analytical devices which consist of biological molecules attached to the sensor surface that bind specifically to target analyte molecules; upon binding a biochemical signal then converted to an electric signal by a transducer producing simple signal readout, such as "Yes", or "No". Biosensor development combines advanced nanotechnologies with the fundamentals of biological recognition with the purpose of developing new sensors and devices for drug testing, food safety and environmental control.**The main goal of this project is to establish collaboration between SannTek Labs and Dr. Leonenko's laboratory at University of Waterloo with the purpose to identify the most optimal biosensing protocols for the development of breathalyzer sensor device for cannabis, which will allow for the quick and simple testing of the air (breath) in order to identify the presence of cannabis.**Dr. Leonenko's laboratory has expertise in biophysics, nanotechnology and leads NSERC-funded research program in biosensor development. SannTek Labs is a rapidly growing high-performance startup company, based out of the Velocity entrepreneurship program at the University of Waterloo, and has a goal of building and bringing to market its first innovative product, a breathalyzer device for cannabis detection.**The complementary expertise and efforts of both groups will be combined to achieve the successful development of the SannTek cannabis breathalyzer, and the protocols obtained within this project will be immediately incorporated into the sensor development for production. **The device for cannabis testing is a desperately needed product within Canada. This sensor device will significantly help and improve the drug testing procedures, and thus it will contribute to the safety of all Canadians by helping keep drug-impaired individuals off the roads and away from dangerous activities.**