Modular platform for integrated biosensors for cancer diagnostics

In the framework of the EU funded project smartHEALTH IMM is developing in a central role solutions for on-chip liquid transport and for the integration of biosensors. Goal of the entire project is to develop a series of devices allowing early diagnosis of cancer and the corresponding monitoring of therapy success. The project smartHEALTH is dealing with those types of cancer which especially require the earliest possible diagnosis, such as colon, breast and cervix cancer.

For this purpose cervical swabs, blood or tissue samples are used and prepared so that a detection of proteins, having been identified as tumor markers, can be realized with the help of an immuno assay. Alternatively, procedures are developed amplifying and finally detecting cancer relevant DNA. Integrated sensors are an essential part of the system. Four different measurement principles are developed in parallel in order to achieve the highest amount of selectivity for each type of cancer.

IMM's part is

• the development of a chip-integrated array of micro electrodes allowing to determine the protein concentration in a sample by means of electrochemical detection reactions
• the combination of a qPCR (quantitative polymerase chain reaction) with a fluorescence detection

The TPB-sensor (transmission plasmon biosensor) and the CDR-sensor (circular disk resonator) are further sensor principles which are developed in smartHEALTH. With the smartHEALTH devices the entire analysis shall be automatically performed from the sample injection including the subsequent data interpretation. Independent from the position of the device, in a doctor's surgery or in a clinical lab, the result of the analysis shall be wirelessly transmitted to the physician in charge.   

Contact: Daniel Latta, Fluidics and Simulation Department,
Phone: +49 6131/990 390

More in formation on the "smartHEALTH" project

Project data sheet 598 KB