The biomolecule detection method developed in the EU project "IMPETUS" coordinated by AIT expert Rainer Hainberger combines paper, printing, and microchip technologies and closes the gap between rapid tests and laboratory analysis. Hainberger is certain that paper-based biosensors are the future and says: "All doctors need is a smartphone with the right app to read off the result. Paper-based diagnostic test systems are inexpensive, environmentally friendly, and bring the laboratory into the physician's office. The pilot line created in the project is an important foundation for the next step from reparative to preventive healthcare."
Is treatment with antibiotics effective? Distinguishing between bacterial and viral infection quickly and cost-effectively was just one application example for the manufacturing processes for paper-based biosensors developed in the EU IMPETUS project. The EU project, led by AIT biosensor expert Rainer Hainberger, Competence Unit Molecular Diagnostics of the Center for Health and Bioresources, ended in October 2022 and set up a pilot line manufacturing facility in an industrial environment at IMPETUS partner tagtron GmbH in Vöcklabruck to produce sustainable, mass-production-ready to fully integrated paper-based electrochemical biosensors whose test results can be transferred directly to a smartphone. Most infectious diseases require coordinated treatment, and this can only be provided if healthcare professionals can also identify the infection. Laboratory tests are time-consuming, cost-intensive and often take too long - this is where the project developed the basis for implementing tests tailored to individual diseases quickly and cost-effectively, at less than 20 euros per disposable test. To this end, suitable screen, flexographic and inkjet printing processes were developed, as well as a novel method of chip mounting for roll-to-roll production. On the strip of a specially developed paper, the functionalities of the electrochemical biosensor test card are printed, and a microchip is applied. This energy-efficient silicon microchip developed by Infineon Technologies Austria AG provides electrochemical signal acquisition, storage and contactless NFC data transmission. A printed battery is sufficient for the energy supply here.
The Biosensors working group of AIT's Molecular Diagnostics Competence Unit can draw on years of experience in the development of sensor solutions for near-patient diagnostics, which are needed for the transformation of the healthcare system currently taking place, away from reparative to preventive medicine. The interdisciplinary team from the fields of physics, chemistry, biology and electronics is working on concepts that allow close monitoring of human health status. The novel paper-based diagnostic test card concept in credit card format will allow quantitative measurement of biomolecules in a few drops of the body fluid to be tested and is primarily intended for medical professionals in the field directly.
Partner
The Horizon 2020 research project (Grant No. 761167), funded by the European Union, involved renowned partners: - four research institutes: AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Silicon Austria Labs GmbH, Papiertechnische Stiftung, Chemnitz University of Technology - five SMEs: Maurer Services GmbH, Maurer Engineering UG, Pro-Active sprl, Saralon GmbH, tagtron GmbH - five large companies: Felix Schoeller Holding GmbH & Co KG, Infineon Technologies Austria AG, R-Biopharm AG, Ricoh UK Products Ltd, Sun Chemical Ltd.
Project homepage: http://www.project-impetus.com