Development of PFAS detection platform

Reach

25 May 2021

Microsaic Systems plc

("Microsaic" or the "Company")

Joint development of 'Forever Chemicals' detection platform with Swansea University and Investor Presentation

Microsaic equipment used for environmental monitoring, to inform the links between environmental pollution and public health.

Microsaic (AIM: MSYS), the developer of point of need mass spectrometry ("MS") instruments, is delighted to announce a collaboration with Swansea University Medical School, utilising Microsaic's miniature mass spectrometry equipment, to develop a monitoring platform capable of measuring per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances ("PFAS", also known as 'forever chemicals') at source and within a laboratory setting.  This will be used to establish the health impacts of the broader range of PFAS pollutants. The detection platform will combine environmental sample preparation and epigenetic approaches with Microsaic's miniature mass spectrometer. Through partnership with stakeholders in the environmental sector, this collaboration is designed to better inform pollution remediation, improve management processes for reduced emission and promote safer handling of PFAS chemicals.

PFAS are pollutants of increasing concern, known as 'forever chemicals' given their environmental persistence following use as protective, non-stick and fire-retardant coatings within electronics, textiles, cleaning agents and cookware¹. There is a shortage of environmental testing globally yet initial human epigenetic studies show reproductive, developmental, liver, kidney, and immunological effects^1,2,3 from skin contact or contaminated food or water, meaning there is an increasing need to monitor these pollutants. Furthermore, given there are conflicting accounts of the epigenetic mechanisms of specific PFAS (e.g. DNA methylation with PFOS and PFOA)^3,4, questions remain as to how epigenetic changes occur across the chemical breadth and for mixtures of PFAS pollutants.

Environmental pollution has been strongly linked to adverse human health outcomes, prompting growing research activity to determine how this leads to disease. Given the breadth of chemicals used in everyday life and their resistance to environmental breakdown, the risk of pollution following release via production, use, ineffective wastewater remediation, and/or leachate from landfill is significant.

Glenn Tracey, CEO of Microsaic Systems plc, commented:

"Establishing 'Fit-for-purpose' monitoring approaches is critical to understanding better which pollutants are present, the degree of exposure to and risk posed by such pollutants, and efficacy of management processes to control how they are released and to mitigate harm better. Current monitoring approaches typically require individual sample collection onsite, with sample preparation and analysis using complex instrumentation in a remote laboratory, resulting in delayed deployment of mitigation measures.

We believe that the world needs remote monitoring solutions that provide real-time data of chemical pollution, to inform automated or other process management or clean-up processes, for reduced environmental and public health impact.

I am delighted that Microsaic's point of need technology are being used in this effort to drive improvements in online environmental monitoring and ground-breaking research to help inform the links between environmental pollutants and their effects on the human genome."

Investor Presentation

Microsaic is pleased to announce that Glenn Tracy, CEO of the Company, will provide a live presentation relating to the development of the 'Forever Chemicals' detection platform with Swansea University via the Investor Meet Company platform on 27 May 2021 at 4:30pm BST.

The presentation is open to all existing and potential shareholders. Questions can be submitted pre-event via the Investor Meet Company dashboard up until 9:00am the day before the meeting or at any time during the live presentation.

Investors can sign up to Investor Meet Company for free and add to meet Microsaic Systems plc via:

https://www.investormeetcompany.com/microsaic-systems-plc/register-investor 

Investors who already follow Microsaic Systems plc on the Investor Meet Company platform will automatically be invited.

References:

¹EPA, https://www.epa.gov/pfas/basic-information-pfas#difference

²Toxicology Department CRCE, PHE 2009 Version 1 , PFOS and PFOA: General Information

³Kim, S,., Thapar, I., Brooks, B. W., Epigenetic changes by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). 2021. Env. Pol. 279: p. 116929.

⁴Kingsley, S.L., Kelsey, K.T., Butler, R., Chen, A., Eliot, M.N., Romano, M.E., et al., 2017. Maternal serum PFOA concentration and DNA methylation in cord blood: a pilot study. Environ. Res. 158, 174e178. etc

About Microsaic (www.microsaic.com)

Microsaic listed on AIM in 2011 to develop and commercialise micro-engineering chip-based mass spectrometry equipment. Having invested £30m over the last 20 years before and after the IPO, Microsaic has a robust patent portfolio in cutting-edge technology purpose built for "Industry 4.0" which enables analytical detection and characterisation at the point-of-need, whether within a human health environment, conventional laboratory setting, or within a bioprocessing facility for continuous mass spectrometer detection and monitoring of data at any step in the process workflow.

Microsaic's products and systems are commercially available through global markets via a network of regional and local partners, targeting its core laboratory, manufacturing and point-of-need applications.