DropSens is an Innovative Technology-Based Firm specialised in the design and manufacture of instruments for Electrochemistry Research  based in Oviedo, Spain.

DropSens develops and manufactures screen-printed electrodes, based on thick-film hybrid technology, with the aim of providing researchers with a powerful tool for the development of electrochemical sensors of diverse nature: chemical, enzyme, immune and genosensors. These sensors are aimed at important applications in the fields of clinical analysis, environment and food control. Screen-printed electrodes offer a number of advantages versus conventional electrodes: they are suitable for working with microvolumes and for decentralised assays (point of care tests). Additionally they avoid tedious polishing of solid electrodes.

With the aim of miniaturising electrochemical instruments, DropSens has focused in the design and manufacture of portable potentiostats which offer the main electrochemical techniques while retaining the accuracy of bigger instruments and offering an easy-to-use computer interface.

DropSens keeps researching to incorporate the advantages of Nanotechnology to Electrochemistry and already supplies high quality Carbon Nanotubes and nanomaterials-modified sensors. One of their main strengths is their flexibility in manufacturing instruments on request. DropSens is able to manufacture tailored instruments and electrodes following researcher’s specifications, including different designs and materials.

In addition to their product portfolio, DropSens offers its services and knowledge in the field of biosensors and electroanalysis. We own a fully equipped laboratory for the development of R&D projects. They offer Training on Biosensors and Electroanalysis as well as consultancy to solve technical problems. Customer’s R&D projects are adapted to fit their necessities for improving processes or products are developed. Website: www.dropsens.com

Contact person: Pablo Fanjul (pfanjul@dropsens.com)

Role of DropSens in Common Sense: DropSens will be involved in the development of electrochemical sensors based on screen printing technology for the detection of analytes in sea water.

Profile of staff engaged in the project:
Dr David Hernandez Santos is the co-founder and Managing Director of DropSens. He is a member of the International Society of Electrochemistry. He has a broad experience in developing immunosensors and genosensors using enzymatic and non-enzymatic labels on screen-printed electrodes. Before the foundation of DropSens, he obtained his PhD and was trained in the immunoelectroanalyisis group of the University of Oviedo, where he gained an intensive knowledge in thick-film hybrid technology and in the biological modification of screen-printed electrodes. His last research interests rely on nanostructuring screen-printed electrodes and the design and development of portable electrochemical instruments with specific software. He has published 10 papers and has four patents related to the use of screen-printed electrodes as biosensors, the development of novel enzymatic substrates and the use of metallic labels in biosensor development.

Pablo Fanjul Bolado, MSc, co-founder and R&D Director of DropSens, has broad experience leading national and international R&D projects, obtained his habilitation thesis in electrochemistry in 2003 by the University of Oviedo. He has focused his research on the development of modified screen-printed electrodes for bioassay applications and on applying nanotechnology to improve electroanalytical methods. He has published 12 papers on analytical chemistry and has three patents. His current research interest is focus on automation for electrochemical detection coupled to instrument design.

Carla Navarro Hernandez, MSc responsible of environmental projects in the R&D department of DropSens, joined the company in 2010 after almost 10 years experience leading projects in research and quality control laboratories. With a strong experience in analytical techniques and a master’s degree in science and technology of materials, she has wide knowledge in thick film hybrid technology and in the development of innovative inks formulations. Her early research work focused on the detection of heavy metals in water samples and pollutants in air using nanotechnology-based sensors and online and portable.