In 1949, Woodland and Silver filed US Patent #2,612,994 entitled "Article Classification Through the Medium of Identifying Patterns". The barcode had been born. The objective of this project is to employ Industrial Biotechnology to develop novel bioinks that will take the Identifying Pattern to the next level of technological utility. These inks will similarly be scanned by means of a simple, light-emitting device, however, by virtue of their biological composition will be able to provide the reader not just with existing ‘static’ information such as country of origin, but a new level of ‘dynamic’ information such as time elapsed since manufacture and the temperature ranges to which the product has been exposed. The applicants have already identified the requisite biocomponents to this end, and, in this project, will examine the feasibility of employing fermentation technology to create a new class of high-value chemicals based upon them. What is innovative about this project is that hitherto it has not been possible for the Identifying Pattern to impart information after it has been printed; bioinks will allow it to continue to generate information along the full length of the supply chain.

Protein arrays are miniaturised assay systems in which proteins are immobilised on surfaces for screening of interactions with other proteins, antibodies and small molecules. Applications include the discovery of biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Cambridge Protein Arrays Ltd has developed a novel concept of individualising protein arrays using its DAPA (DNA Array to Protein Array) technology, in which protein arrays are 'printed' directly from DNA array templates by means of cell free protein expression (hence protein arrays ‘on demand’). Where the DNA sequences are the output of sequencing of individual genomes, DAPA provides a rapid link to the corresponding proteomes, enabling a new area of 'personalised proteomics’ and aiding the search for target specific drugs for patient-tailored therapies.This proposal seeks to optimise technology parameters of the DAPA system aimed at improved efficiency and quality assurance.