Technologies

A biosensor based on magnetic microspheres functionalized with a DNA-aptamer was developed for the specific biomonitoring of biological contaminants (mycotoxins) in urine.

Ageing characterization of Balsamic Vinegar of Modena (BVM) and Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena (TBVM) by the combined use of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy (NMR) and multivariate statistical analysis. Our database allows to differentiate BVM from TBVM samples. Moreover, within BVMs, samples with ageing <3/>3 years can be discriminated and within TBVM, samples with ageing between 12 and 25 years as well as >25 years can be discriminated.

The proposed technology consists of a portable device for monitoring the freshness of fish, based on its smell. The device is based on a gas sensor and pattern recognition software to correlate the sensor signal to the freshness of the food. The technology is designed for its integration into domestic or industrial refrigerators.

Combined use of High-Resolution Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy (NMR) and multivariate statistical analysis for the differentiation of PDO Parmigiano Reggiano samples according to ripening and for the differentiation of PDO Parmigiano Reggiano from “Grana type” products available on the market.

Digital Eye is an innovative, rapid and high-precision intelligent computer vision system for the non-destructive and contactless evaluation of quality and shelf-life of whole or fresh-cut fruit and vegetables. It integrates advanced vision and artificial intelligence technologies to estimate parameters useful to evaluate the quality of fruit and vegetables, during both the harvesting phase and the cold chain.

The insertion of executable programs within QR codes is a new enabling technology for many application contexts in everyday life. Every time Internet access is unavailable, QR code usage is limited to reading the data it contains without any possibility of interaction.

Combined use of High-Resolution Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy in solution and multivariate statistical analysis for the geographical differentiation of Italian and Chinese concentrated tomato paste. Particularly the metabolites content of acqueos exctrats of concentrated tomato paste is evaluated.

VisLab laboratory of IMM possesses a latest generation Raman micro-spectroscope equipped for vibrational measurements with high spatial and spectral resolution, at controlled temperature and in fast-imaging. The apparatus can be used to collect information and chemico-physical maps without the need for sample preparation and alteration, therefore for non-destructive studies and in operating conditions.

Characterization of authenticity of honey by the combined use of high resolution Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy (NMR) and multivariate statistical analysis. Particularly, based on our database, different characterization involving authentication assessment, like botanical or geographical origin determination are possible. Moreover, it is possible to detect saccharides addictions like inulin, corn/malt syrups, and inverted sugar. Finally, it is possible to distinguish the Italian biological honey from the conventional one.

Lifeshell is an anti-seismic furniture construction concept, which can be used for making wardrobes, tables, desktops, beds. It’s made by timber based panels: highly resistant and flexible, relatively lightweight and inexpensive. Lifeshell benefits from the natural wood elasticity and from smart connections for dissipating the great impact energies occurring during an earthquake. Lifeshell has been designed for resisting partial building collapses, and to provide a safe shell where inhabitants can find refuge.

We propose a compact innovative spectroscopy system operating in the UV range. In the actual version, designed for gas, it exhibits: an aluminium tubular optical chamber (length can be adjusted; currently is 20 cm); a cheap commercial UV LED; a SiC visible blind UV detector designed and manufactured at the CNR-IMM facilities. The team developed also the electronic chain for wireless remote real time read out; while able to deal with pA current levels, it uses very cheap components and construction technology.

This invention comprises an interrogation and readout differential method for chemical sensors based on Surface Plasmon Resonances (SPR). The integration of the SPR sensing unit (chip or other), as intermediate reflecting element of a Fabry-Perot (FP) optical resonator, is the starting point for the application of this method.

The NanoMicroFab infrastructure, support companies operating in the field of micro and nanoelectronics through the supply of materials, development of processes, design, fabrication and characterization of materials and devices. NanoMicroFab makes use of existing CNR facilities of the Institute of Microelectronics and Microsystems, the Institute of Photonics and Nanotechnologies and the Institute for the Structure of Matter and provides: • a complete line of development of devices based on wide band gap semiconductors.

The Open Chemistry Database, OChemDb, is a web portal for the research and analysis of crystallochemical information relating to organic, inorganic, metallorganic compounds, and provides statistical information on bond distances, bond angles, torsion angles, types of atoms and space groups. To obtain the above information, OChemDb queries a database, appropriately designed, that contains crystalline structures already resolved.

Celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity affect a large portion of the world population. Furthermore, the percentage of people who adopt the gluten free diet is constantly increasing because it is perceived to be healthier. We have previously developed a food grade enzymatic procedure (transamidation) for wheat flour capable of making gluten unable to induce the inflammatory response in the intestine of celiac disease patients.