The Need

Endotoxins from gram‑negative bacteria pose serious risks in pharmaceutical manufacturing, medical devices, food, and water systems, even at picogram-per-milliliter levels. Current standard methods, such as the LAL assay, require specialized reagents, laboratory infrastructure, and raise cost, supply chain, and sustainability concerns. There is a clear unmet need for a rapid, low‑cost, field‑deployable endotoxin detection technology that enables sensitive screening without complex instrumentation or trained personnel.

The Technology

OSU engineers have developed a novel technology that enables ultrasensitive, naked‑eye detection of endotoxins using a ligand‑modified substrate coated with a thin lubricant layer. When a liquid sample is placed on the surface and gently tilted, the droplet’s motion (pinning versus sliding) changes in a concentration‑dependent manner. These visually observable differences provide a direct readout of endotoxin presence and level. The approach is compatible with simple substrates such as glass, plastics, or paper, supporting scalable and low‑cost manufacturing.

Commercial Applications

• Rapid endotoxin screening in pharmaceutical and biologics manufacturing
• Quality control for medical devices and injectable solutions
• Food and beverage safety monitoring
• On‑site water quality testing and environmental monitoring

Benefits/Advantages

• Naked‑eye readout
• High sensitivity
• Low cost & scalable
• Portable & fast