Eppendorf Liquid Handling

Glowing Accuracy: Exploring New Frontiers in Thermal Sensing for Life Sciences

Description of the company

Eppendorf is a renowned German company specializing in the development, manufacture, and distribution of high-quality laboratory equipment and consumables. Founded in 1945 by Dr. Heinrich Netheler and Dr. Hans Hinz in Hamburg, Germany, the company has since become a global leader in the life sciences industry. Eppendorf's product portfolio includes laboratory instruments such as centrifuges, pipettes, shakers, and incubators, as well as consumables like tubes, plates, and tips.
With a strong focus on innovation, Eppendorf continuously introduces new technologies and solutions to meet the evolving needs of researchers and scientists worldwide. All products are known for their reliability, precision, and user-friendly design, making them essential tools in various fields including molecular biology, cell biology, microbiology, and biotechnology.
Eppendorf's commitment to quality and customer satisfaction has earned them a trusted reputation within the scientific community. Through their global network of subsidiaries, distributors, and service centers, they provide comprehensive support and assistance to customers around the world, helping to advance scientific research and discovery.

Situation

In the fields of cell biology, microfluidics, and nanomedicine, precise temperature measurement is crucial for accurate experimentation and data analysis. However, traditional temperature measurement techniques often fall short when applied to small biological samples. These conventional methods lack the precision needed at microscale levels and cannot provide non-invasive, spatially resolved temperature data. This limitation has hindered progress in research and industrial applications that require detailed thermal profiling in tiny, sensitive samples.

Problem

Current temperature measurement methods are not well-suited for small biological samples due to their invasive nature and lack of spatial resolution. Traditional sensors and thermometers cannot be scaled down to the size needed for these applications without losing accuracy or disturbing the sample. This inadequacy presents a significant barrier to advancements in research areas that rely on precise thermal control, such as cell biology and microfluidics. As a result, there is a need for a more accurate, non-invasive, and scalable temperature measurement solution.

Aims and Scope of the project

1. Concept Validation:
   • Test the concept using specifically selected dyes.
   • Determine the temperature dependent characteristics of these dyes and their reliability in providing non-invasive, spatially resolved temperature data in small biological samples.
   • Consider factors like the stability and thermal degradation of the dyes, the robustness of the calibration curve, and the overall practicality of the method for large-scale implementation.
2. Calibration:
   • Create a calibration curve by measuring the excited short-term light emission intensity of the selected dyes at known temperatures.
   • Analyze how the excited short-term light emission intensity of each dye correlates/depends with temperature.
3. Statistical Evaluation:
   • Perform statistical analysis on the collected data to assess the accuracy, precision, and reproducibility of the temperature measurements.
   • Compare the performance of the new concept against traditional temperature measurement methods in terms of precision, spatial resolution, and non-invasiveness.
4. Industrial Feasibility Assessment:
   • Evaluate whether the concept is scalable for industrial applications – e.g. encapsulation, dosing, handling in general and costs.

Target group (students)

Study Programs:

• Chemical Engineering
• Bioengineering
• Process Engineering
• Technical Chemistry
• Biotechnology
• Mechanical Engineering with a focus on instrumentation or sensor technology
• Electrical Engineering with a focus on sensor technology or signal processing

Dates
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Registration
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