Lourdes Basabe-Desmonts, Principal Investigator of the Microfluidics Cluster UPV/EHU, was recently interviewed on Onda Vasca’s Kale Nagusia programme to discuss our research on a simple and portable device for detecting scopolamine (“burundanga”) in beverages.

During the interview, Lourdes explained the motivation behind the development of the technology: to create an easy-to-use test capable of providing a rapid visual warning when an unwanted substance is present in a drink. The device combines plastic and paper-based microfluidic components and works automatically once brought into contact with the sample, producing a colour change in less than ten minutes when scopolamine is detected.

The technology is the result of more than five years of research by the Microfluidics Cluster and was conceived as a portable preventive tool that could contribute to tackling cases of drug-facilitated assault. During the conversation, Lourdes also discussed the challenges involved in moving research of this kind from the laboratory towards large-scale manufacturing and eventual commercialization.

The interview is a great opportunity to bring our research closer to society and to highlight how microfluidic and paper-based technologies can be translated into simple tools addressing real-world problems.

Listen to the full interview with Lourdes Basabe-Desmonts on Onda Vasca’s Kale Nagusia.