Contact Professor Sam Tothill
- Email: i.tothill@cranfield.ac.uk
Areas of expertise
- Biomedical Engineering
- Biosensors & Diagnostics
- Drug Discovery & Development
- Food Safety
- Nanomaterials
- Nanotechnology
- Smart Materials
Background
Professor Tothill has a PhD in Analytical Biochemistry from Cranfield University, where she conducted original research in enzyme catalysis/ discovery and their application in biotechnology and diagnostics. She has an MSc in Microbial Biochemistry and was awarded the top student award for her BSc degree. She holds many visiting professor positions in Europe and China and has served as Academic Programme Director, Deputy Education Director, Associate Dean for the Faculty of Medicine and Biosciences, Director for the Sensors for Water Interest Group and Head of Cranfield Biotechnology Centre. Professor Tothill sits on several editorial boards for international scientific Journals and scientific committees and delivers several keynotes and invited talks each year at major international and European conferences and has been awarded a number of prizes for her research.
Current activities
Professor of Bio-Nano Sensors, Head of the Bio-Nano Sensors Group. Professor Sam Tothill's current interests centre on the development of biosensors and diagnostics devices, with research covering the Health, foods and environmental sectors.
Prof Tothill research is focused on signifying the analytical advantages of interfacing inorganic transducer surfaces and biological/biomimics/synthetic species at the micro and nano level. This has led to the fabrication of a range of electrochemical, micro-electromechanical and optical sensor platforms and Lab-on-a-Chip devices for disease prevention and detection. The application of nanotechnology in the design and manufacturing of novel sensing system and Nano- receptor molecules such as molecular imprinting polymers (NanoMIPs) and peptides is her current research interest. Her work cover analysis of microbial contaminants and pathogen's (bacteria, viruses, fungi) and their toxins such as mycotoxins, cyanobacterial toxins and endotoxins, disease biomarkers (eg. cancer, cardiovascular, infectious disease and others) for point-of-care testing and diagnosis. She also work on the detection of heavy metals, drugs, allergens and chemical contaminants in food, the environment and biological fluids.
Clients
Professor Tothill's expertise has been explored with a range of business clients nationally and internationally. Current and recent research has been supported by BBSRC, DEFRA, Oxoid Ltd, Unipath, BRE, EA, MIRO, WRAP, the Institute for Medical Research and MARDI (Malaysia), Tupperware (USA), DuPont Ltd. (UK), Sierra Sensors (Germany), Philips Ltd. (UK), Innovate UK, Unilever, the European Commission (FP5, 6 &7) and collaborative research with NHS partner Hospitals (Bedford and Gloucester).
Publications
Articles In Journals
- Wignarajah S, Chianella I & Tothill IE. (2023). Development of electrochemical immunosensors for HER-1 and HER-2 analysis in serum for breast cancer patients. Biosensors, 13(3)
- D’Aurelio R, Tothill IE, Salbini M, Calò F, Mazzotta E, .... (2021). A comparison of EIS and QCM nanoMIP-based sensors for morphine. Nanomaterials, 11(12)
Conference Papers
- Godley AR, Smith R & Tothill IE. (2004). Is pre-biological treatment of organic wastes the best option for recycling organic matter to soil?
- Tothill IE, Kadara R, Bello Rodriguez B, Arrigan D, Valiente M, .... (2003). Development of chemical sensors and biosensors for monitoring of toxic heavy metals in contaminated soil samples
- Arrigan DWM, Hill M, Tothill I, Valiente M, Kaifer MJ, .... (2001). Development of improved detection systems for monitoring of toxic heavy metals in contaminated soils
Books
- Altintas Z & Tothill IE. (2016). Health care: nanomaterial applications in healthcare diagnostics In Kharisov BI, Kharissova OV & Ortiz-Mendez U (eds), Concise encyclopedia of nanotechnology (Chapter 27). CRC Press.
- Fakanya WM, Altintas Z & Tothill IE. (2013). Biosensors for the diagnosis of heart disease In Dilsat Ozkan-Ariksoysal (ed.), Biosensors and Their Application in Healthcare. Future Science.
- Tothill IE. (2011). Emerging bio-sensing methods for mycotoxin analysis In De Saeger S(ed.), Determining mycotoxins and mycotoxigenic fungi in food and feed. Woodhead Publishing.
- Tothill IE. (2009). Advances in the development of toxicity sensors In Sensors for Chemical and Biological Applications. Taylor and Francis.
- Tothill IE. (2009). Peptides as Molecular Receptors In Different Recognition Receptors used in Biosensing. Springer.
- Tothill IE. (2006). Microbiological Risk and Anlysis Issues in Water In Water Contamination Emergencies: Enhancing Our Response. Royal Society of Chemistry; 1 edition.
- Tothill I(ed.). (2003). Rapid and on-line instrumentation for food quality assurance
- Tothill IE & Magan N. (2003). Rapid detection methods for microbial contamination In Rapid and On-Line Instrumentation for Food Quality Assurance. Elsevier.
- Tothill IE. (2003). On-line Immunochemical Assays for Contaminants Analysis In Rapid and on-line Instrumentation for Food Quality Assurance. Woodhead Publishing Limited.
- Tothill IE & Turner APF. (2003). Biosensors In Encyclopaedia of Food Sciences and Nutrition. Academic Press.
- Tothill IE & Stevens S. (2001). Biological Methods (Chapter 9) In Analytical Methods for Environmental Monitoring. Pearson Education Limited.
- Tothill I, Piletsky A, Magan N & Turner A. (2001). New biosensors In Instrumentation and Sensors for the Food Industry, Second Edition. CRC Press.