Innovations

Baobab LIMS is an African-led innovation that was developed as part of the B3Africa consortium. It is an affordable sample and laboratory management tool for biobanking that has been implemented in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), which previously (due in part to financial constraints)

Surfactants are amphipathic molecules with both hydrophilic and hydrophobic moieties that partition preferentially at the interface between fluid phases, such as oil/water or air/water interfaces. Such characteristics confer excellent detergency, emulsifying, foaming, and dispersing traits, which

A novel bioreactor system that uses membranes to create a compartmentalised system where two or more species can be co-cultured without mixing of species, while ensuring rapid exchange of metabolites and proteins between compartments and shared medium composition. The system operates continuously

The Department of Chemical Engineering at Stellenbosch University has developed a novel solvent-based process for extracting cannabinoids directly from plant-wax waste streams generated during industrial processing. The method uses a simple but effective combination of two immiscible solvents, one

ImmerseCell is a virtual reality experience (VLE) to teach undergraduate and postgraduate students about key cellular structures with an interactive, narrated, guided experience (Figure 1, Figure 2). The team utilised real-world microscopy data of various key cellular structures in the mammalian

Researchers at Stellenbosch University have developed a proprietary buffer that enables a high-temperature (50°C) IVT process, solving a key industry challenge. Unlike standard buffers that suffer a ~40% yield loss at high temperature, this formulation maintains ~93% RNA yield with standard enzyme

A method has been developed by which cannabinoids are extracted from a waste wax that is formed during conventional extraction of cannabinoids from Cannabis plants. During medicinal cannabinoid extraction process, cannabinoids are extracted from the plant material into an alcohol phase, which can be

A novel bioreactor system that uses membranes to create a compartmentalised system whereby two or more species can be co-cultured without mixing of species, while ensuring rapid exchange of metabolites and proteins between compartments and shared medium composition. The system operates continuously

SoilTrac enables the monitoring,in real time, of soil respiration rates (microbial, microfauna and plant metabolic activity) and other physical parameters(temperature, soil moisture levels etc.) through the implementation of various sensors and cloud capabilities(Edge-to-Cloud Approach). The patent

The novel aspect of this patented technology lies in the specific combination of a functionalised nanocarrier ( A single-walled carbon nanotube with polyethylene glycol), targeting moiety (folic acid), and unique plant extract compounds (which and known for their medicinal properties and potential

The CREDO (CartRidge Extractor DiagnOsis) Device is a device designed to safely and sterilely remove fluid remaining after assay completion from used cartridges (this used cartridge would otherwise be discarded). This fluid can be useful for downstream applications (these downstream tests could be

Nanomedicine is revolutionising cancer care. By harnessing particles smaller than 100 nanometers, scientists can now target cancer cells with precision while sparing healthy tissue. These nano-scale delivery vehicles—like liposomes and dendrimers—boast a high surface area and customizable chemistry