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Prof. Dieter Trau

Position
Professor, Director
Unit
Department of Department of Industrial Systems Engineering (ISE) /
AIT Entrepreneurship Center
Media Links
PROFILE
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
RESEARCH INTERESTS
TEACHING
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
AWARDS AND HONORS
RESEARCH KEYWORDS

Prof Trau holds an engineering degree (Dipl. Ing. FH) from the Aachen University of Applied Science, 1994 in Chemical and Bioengineering and a PhD from the Hong Kong University of Science & Technology (HKUST) 2001 in Chemistry. From 1994 to 1998 he worked as a Research Engineer at the Institute of Bio- and Chemical Sensors in Müenster, Germany. At that time he also started his entrepreneurial activities with the foundation of the biotechnology companies Xantec (1995), 8sens biognostic (2000) in Germany, AYOXXA Pte Ltd (2010), Tip Biosystems Pte Ltd (2014) and E3A Healthcare Pte Ltd (2019) in Singapore.
He became a cofounder of AVECRIS Pte Ltd in Singapore in 2018. He was a Research Fellow, Assistant Lecturer/Assistant Professor at HKUST from 2001 to 2004. In 2004 he joined the Division of Bioengineering and the Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering at the National University of Singapore (NUS) as an Assistant Professor. He was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure in 2013. In July 2019 he was hired as the Dean of Engineering by the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) as a full Professor and also took over the role of the Founding Director of the new AIT Entrepreneurship Center. In June 2023 he completed his 4 year tenure as Dean and continues as a full Professor at the Department of Industrial Systems Engineering (ISE) teaching medical engineering and bio-nanotechnology.

  1. Ph.D. in Chemistry, 2001
    Hong Kong University of Science & Technology (HKUST), Department of Chemistry in collaboration with the Max-Planck Institute for Colloids and Interfaces in Berlin, Germany.
  2. Engineering degree (Dipl. Ing. FH) in Chemical Engineering/Biotechnology, 1994
    Aachen University of Applied Science, Aachen/Jülich, Germany.



Development of new approaches and platform technologies for bioanalytics, biosensors and diagnostics. By utilizing synergies within microfabrication, encapsulation technology, surface/colloidal chemistry and molecular biology novel analytical techniques and devices are created. Expert in analytical chemistry, colloidal chemistry and encapsulation. Major invention are “Reverse Phase LbL Encapsulation Technology“ to encapsulate macromolecular drugs (patents granted); “Microcapsule-PCR” to perform millions of PCRs in parallel (patents granted);   “In-situ Encoded Bead Microarrays“ for protein multiplexing (patents granted); “Supernova biolabel technology“ for ultra-high sensitive bioassays (patents granted); “PHOTOPETTE handheld” and “SPECTROPOD microvolume” spectrophotometer technology enabling the first personal handheld spectrophotometer (patents granted) and “BiliOptics Sclera Scanner” for non-invasive jaundice diagnostics and management in infants. Patents are granted for most of Dr Trau’s technologies and commercialized by several companies including Capsulution GmbH and 8sens Biognostic GmbH in Germany, Supernova Ltd in Hong Kong and AYOXXA GmbH in Germany, E3A Healthcare and Tip Biosystems Pte Ltd in Singapore.

  1. AT84.09 In the Mind of Entrepreneur (Part A and B)
  2. AT84.9005 Selected Topic: Bionanotechnology, Biomimetics, and Biomaterials  
  3. AT86.05 Medical Instrumentation and Imaging

Patent applications and Patents:

  1. Disposable photometric measurement tip
    GB2519132A • 2015-04-15 •
    UNIV SINGAPORE
    Earliest priority: 2013-10-11 • Earliest publication: 2015-04-15
  2. COMBINATORIC ENCODING METHODS FOR MICROARRAYS
    US2015182932A1 (B2) • 2015-07-02 •
    UNIV SINGAPORE
    Earliest priority: 2012-07-20 • Earliest publication: 2014-01-23
  3. METHOD AND HAND HELD LABORATORY DEVICE TO CONTROL SCREEN NAVIGATION
    EP3069215A1 (A4,B1) • 2016-09-21 •
    UNIV SINGAPORE
    Earliest priority: 2013-11-13 • Earliest publication: 2015-05-21
  4. Spectral photochemical analyzer of liquid media has waveguide tip containing parts of light guide element with recess functioning as cuvette for receiving measuring medium
    DE10149879A1 (B4) • 2003-04-30 •
    ORBAN & TRAU XANTEC
    Earliest priority: 2001-10-10 • Earliest publication: 2003-04-30
  5. SOURCE CONTROLLED DECODABLE MICROARRAY SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR USE
    US2014357504A1 (A9) • 2014-12-04 •
    AYOXXA BIOSYSTEMS GMBH
    Earliest priority: 2006-08-03 • Earliest publication: 2014-12-04
  6. SENSOR AND SYSTEM FOR NEONATAL JAUNDICE MONITORING AND MANAGEMENT
    CN111434309A • 2020-07-21 •
    NAT UNIV SINGAPORE
    Earliest priority: 2019-01-11 • Earliest publication: 2020-07-16
  7. A PROCESS FOR MAKING A MICROARRAY
    WO2011090441A1 • 2011-07-28 •
    UNIV SINGAPORE
    Earliest priority: 2010-01-25 • Earliest publication: 2011-07-28
  8. Device and method for carrying out fluorescence immunotests
    US2003032199A1 (B2) • 2003-02-13 •
    INST CHEMO UND BIOSENSORIK MUN
    Earliest priority: 1997-03-18 • Earliest publication: 2003-02-13
  9. NONINVASIVE OPTICAL SENSOR FOR ANALYZING A LEVEL OF A SUBSTANCE IN A SUBJECT BY ILLUMINATING THE SCLERA
    WO2018208233A1 • 2018-11-15 •
    NAT UNIV SINGAPORE
    Earliest priority: 2017-05-12 • Earliest publication: 2018-11-15
  10. A disposable measurement tip and method for use thereof
    GB2525679A • 2015-11-04 •
    UNIV SINGAPORE
    Earliest priority: 2014-05-02 • Earliest publication: 2015-11-04
  11. Kapseln, die feste Teilchen signalerzeugender Substanzen einkapseln, und deren Verwendung bei Bioassays zum Nachweis von Zielmolekülen in einer Probe
    DE10042023A1 (C2) • 2002-02-28 •
    BIOGNOSTIC AG
    Earliest priority: 2000-08-08 • Earliest publication: 2002-02-14
  12. VORRICHTUNG UND VERFAHREN ZUR DURCHFÜHRUNG VON FLUORESZENZIMMUNOTESTS
    AT227425T • 2002-11-15 •
    INST CHEMO BIOSENSORIK
    Earliest priority: 1997-03-18 • Earliest publication: 1998-04-16
  13. A MICROPARTICLE ASSEMBLY
    EP2839284A1 (A4,B1) • 2015-02-25 •
    UNIV SINGAPORE
    Earliest priority: 2012-05-22 • Earliest publication: 2013-11-27
  14. MICROCAPSULES WITH CONTROLABLE PERMEABILITY ENCAPSULATING A NUCLEIC ACID AMPLIFICATION REACTION MIXTURE AND THEIR USE AS REACTION COMPARTMENTS FOR PARALLELS REACTIONS
    EP1488006A2 (B1) • 2004-12-22 •
    INNOVATIVEBIO BIZ
    Earliest priority: 2002-03-20 • Earliest publication: 2003-09-25
  15. REVERSE PHASE LAYER-BY-LAYER ENCAPSULATION OF HIGHLY WATER SOLUBLE MATERIALS
    WO2008091228A2 (A3) • 2008-07-31 •
    UNIV SINGAPORE
    Earliest priority: 2007-01-24 • Earliest publication: 2008-07-31
  16. HAND-HELD DEVICES
    WO2017196262A1 • 2017-11-16 •
    NAT UNIV SINGAPORE
    Earliest priority: 2016-05-12 • Earliest publication: 2017-11-16
  17. EINKAPSELUNG VON KRISTALLEN MIT MEHRSCHICHTIGEM ÜBERZUG
    AT226267T • 2002-11-15 •
    MAX PLANCK GESELLSCHAFT
    Earliest priority: 1999-06-10 • Earliest publication: 2000-12-21
  18. Templatieren von Feststoffpartikeln mit Polymermultischichten
    DE10001172A1 • 2001-07-26 •
    MAX PLANCK GESELLSCHAFT
    Earliest priority: 2000-01-13 • Earliest publication: 2001-07-18
  19. MICROARRAY SYSTEM AND A PROCESS FOR DETECTING TARGET ANALYTES USING THE SYSTEM
    US10927406B2 (A1) • 2021-02-23 •
    NAT UNIV SINGAPORE
    Earliest priority: 2006-08-03 • Earliest publication: 2008-02-07
    Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Durchführung von quantitativen Fluoreszenz markierten Affinitätstests
    DE19856041A1 • 2000-07-13 •
    INST CHEMO BIOSENSORIK
    Earliest priority: 1998-12-04 • Earliest publication: 2000-06-15

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

  1. Enzyme encapsulation in layer-by-layer engineered polymer multilayer capsules
    F Caruso, D Trau, H Möhwald, R Renneberg
    Langmuir 16 (4), 1485-1488
  2. Microencapsulation of uncharged low molecular weight organic materials by polyelectrolyte multilayer self-assembly
    F Caruso, W Yang, D Trau, R Renneberg
    Langmuir 16 (23), 8932-8936
  3. Microcapsules with controlable permeability encapsulating a nucleic acid amplification reaction mixture and their use as reaction compartment for parallels reactions
    D Trau, R Renneberg, MW Cheung
    US Patent App. 10/508,686
  4. Layer-by-layer construction of novel biofunctional fluorescent microparticles for immunoassay applications
    W Yang, D Trau, R Renneberg, NT Yu, F Caruso
    Journal of colloid and interface science 234 (2), 356-362
  5. Encapsulation of glucose oxidase microparticles within a nanoscale layer-by-layer film: immobilization and biosensor applications
    D Trau, R Renneberg
    Biosensors and Bioelectronics 18 (12), 1491-1499
  6. Genotyping on a complementary metal oxide semiconductor silicon polymerase chain reaction chip with integrated DNA microarray
    D Trau, TMH Lee, AIK Lao, R Lenigk, IM Hsing, NY Ip, MC Carles, …
    Analytical chemistry 74 (13), 3168-3173
  7. Nanoencapsulated microcrystalline particles for superamplified biochemical assays
    D Trau, W Yang, M Seydack, F Caruso, NT Yu, R Renneberg
    Analytical chemistry 74 (21), 5480-5486
  8. Surface-chemistry technology for microfluidics
    WLW Hau, DW Trau, NJ Sucher, M Wong, Y Zohar
    Journal of micromechanics and microengineering 13 (2), 272
  9. Disposable optical sensor chip for medical diagnostics: new ways in bioanalysis
    K Schult, A Katerkamp, D Trau, F Grawe, K Cammann, M Meusel
    Analytical Chemistry 71 (23), 5430-5435
  10. A ‘microfluidic pinball’for on-chip generation of layer-by-layer polyelectrolyte microcapsules
    C Kantak, S Beyer, L Yobas, T Bansal, D Trau
    Lab on a Chip 11 (6), 1030-1035
  11. Templating of solid particles by polymer multilayers
    F Caruso, D Trau, H Möhwald, R Renneberg
    US Patent 7,045,146
  12. Nanocrystal biolabels with releasable fluorophores for immunoassays
    CP Chan, Y Bruemmel, M Seydack, K Sin, L Wong, E Merisko-Liversidge, …
    Analytical chemistry 76 (13), 3638-3645
  13. Micromolding of PDMS scaffolds and microwells for tissue culture and cell patterning: A new method of microfabrication by the self-assembled micropatterns of diblock copolymer …
    Y Mi, Y Chan, D Trau, P Huang, E Chen
    Polymer 47 (14), 5124-5130
  14. Influence of different polyelectrolytes on layer-by-layer microcapsule properties: Encapsulation efficiency and colloidal and temperature stability
    WC Mak, KY Cheung, D Trau
    Chemistry of Materials 20 (17), 5475-5484
  15. Silole nanocrystals as novel biolabels
    CP Chan, M Haeussler, BZ Tang, Y Dong, K Sin, W Mak, D Trau, …
    Journal of immunological methods 295 (1-2), 111-118
  16. Encapsulation of crystals via multilayer coatings
    F Caruso, D Trau, H Möhwald, R Renneberg
    US Patent 6,833,192
  17. Miniaturized flow fractionation device assisted by a pulsed electric field for nanoparticle separation
    AIK Lao, D Trau, IM Hsing
    Analytical Chemistry 74 (20), 5364-5369
  18. Diffusion controlled and temperature stable microcapsule reaction compartments for high‐throughput microcapsule‐PCR
    WC Mak, KY Cheung, D Trau
    Advanced Functional Materials 18 (19), 2930-2937
  19. Electrochemical bioassay utilizing encapsulated electrochemical active microcrystal biolabels
    WC Mak, KY Cheung, D Trau, A Warsinke, F Scheller, R Renneberg
    Analytical chemistry 77 (9), 2835-2841
  20. Matrix-assisted colloidosome reverse-phase layer-by-layer encapsulating biomolecules in hydrogel microcapsules with extremely high efficiency and retention stability
    WC Mak, J Bai, XY Chang, D Trau
    Langmuir 25 (2), 769-775
  21. Reverse-Phase LbL Encapsulation of Highly Water Soluble Materials by Layer-by-Layer Polyelectrolyte Self-Assembly
    S Beyer, WC Mak, D Trau
    Langmuir 23 (17), 8827-8832
  22. Development of an amperometric flow injection immunoanalysis system for the determination of the herbicide 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid in water
    D Trau, T Theuerl, M Wilmer, M Meusel, F Spener
    Biosensors and Bioelectronics 12 (6), 499-510
  23. Capsules encapsulating solid particles of signal-generating organic substances and their use in vitro bioassays for detection of target molecules in a sample
    D Trau, R Renneberg, F Caruso, M Lehmann
    US Patent App. 10/344,016
  24. Amperometric immunosensor for the detection of 2, 4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2, 4-D) in water
    M Wilmer, D Trau, R Renneberg, F Spener
    Synthesis and Reactivity in Inorganic and Metal-organic Chemistry, Volume 30

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  1. 1st Prize at “Best of Biotech” Competition with AYOXXA, Austria 2010 
  2. Kaufman Foundation Global Top50 Start-Up 2010 with AYOXXA 
  3. “Promising NUS Startup Award”, highest award of the National University of Singapore (NUS) for entrepreneurship achivments including 100,000 SGD price money for the company, Singapore, 2013
  4. 2nd Prize “Asian Entrepreneurship Award”, Japan, 2013 
  5. Multiple awards with student projects from the Trau Lab at NUS, e.g. EMedIC Global Competition 2018.
  1. Biosensors,
  2. Micro encapsulation,
  3. medical devices,
  4. bioanalytics,
  5. Spectropod,
  6. Photopette,
  7. synthetic biology