Periodic Reporting for period 1 - VirAIR (Nanomechanical spectrometry as an early alert system of the presence of airborne pathogens in critical settings)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2022-01-01 al 2023-06-30
In this project we have analyzed the key issues to be solved in order to advance in the manufacturing and commercialization route of a prototype instrumentation for the identification and detection of respiratory viruses, particularly SARS-COV-2 viral particles, from the air environment, as an early alert system of much interest for the preventive medicine units at hospitals. The technology aimed for demonstration and exploitation is based on the characterization of intrinsic physical properties of viruses, without any dependence on prior amplification by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), nor demand for the development of antibodies for biochemical assays.
We have identified the key issues to be solved for cost-efficient medium and large scale manufacturing of the instrument. In order to accelerate the market entry of the technology, we have also performed a market feasibility study of the technology, as well as clarified the intellectual property position. The information gathered along the project has allowed fruitful approaches to different potential partners and investors to advance in the exploitation and final use of the technology.
We have identified the key issues to be solved for cost-efficient medium and large scale manufacturing of the instrument. In order to accelerate the market entry of the technology, we have also performed a market feasibility study of the technology, as well as clarified the intellectual property position. The information gathered along the project has allowed fruitful approaches to different potential partners and investors to advance in the exploitation and final use of the technology.
The project had two key goals, the first goal was to build a demonstrator of the technology targeted to detection of viral particles from air environment, that would serve to convince investors and industrial partners to support the project through next steps and accelerate its market entry.
As planned in the DoA, the tests have been conducted by using the available prototypes build up in the framework of the FET-PROACTIVE-VIRUSCAN project. The first activity was directed to the evaluation of the air volume that we could process per hour, since the work performed in market and end user study established that the measurement time would be a critical figure of merit of the new technology. Then, we tested the number of particles we could detect from the air environment in the laboratory, as a necessary preliminary step prior to the measurements directed to viral like particles. Finally, we tested the prototype with viral particles and analysed the sensitivity and specificity in the detection of the viral particles under test. We have used the prototype in two operation modes: 1. Open mode: Detection of nanoparticles directly from the air environment. 2. ESI mode: Detection of nanoparticles from a liquid sample where the nanoparticles had been suspended.
A second key goal of the project was to perform and in-depth analysis of the intellectual property position, develop a business plan and start contacts with other potential investors and industrial partners as early as possible. We have developed a package that has been and will be presented to investors that includes a patent teaser, directed to licensing of the patented technology and a business plan presentation directed to the attraction of seed capital for the foundation of a start-up.
As planned in the DoA, the tests have been conducted by using the available prototypes build up in the framework of the FET-PROACTIVE-VIRUSCAN project. The first activity was directed to the evaluation of the air volume that we could process per hour, since the work performed in market and end user study established that the measurement time would be a critical figure of merit of the new technology. Then, we tested the number of particles we could detect from the air environment in the laboratory, as a necessary preliminary step prior to the measurements directed to viral like particles. Finally, we tested the prototype with viral particles and analysed the sensitivity and specificity in the detection of the viral particles under test. We have used the prototype in two operation modes: 1. Open mode: Detection of nanoparticles directly from the air environment. 2. ESI mode: Detection of nanoparticles from a liquid sample where the nanoparticles had been suspended.
A second key goal of the project was to perform and in-depth analysis of the intellectual property position, develop a business plan and start contacts with other potential investors and industrial partners as early as possible. We have developed a package that has been and will be presented to investors that includes a patent teaser, directed to licensing of the patented technology and a business plan presentation directed to the attraction of seed capital for the foundation of a start-up.
Virair project has successfully weighed single viral particles and with a very high throughput, of up to 30 particles per hour, well beyond state of the art. We have a working prototype of the technology, so the impact will not only be that of a successful outcome technology, but also the new generated knowledge by all actors that will be able to have access to the final commercial instrument and use it in the diverse areas involved: virology, bacteriology, medicine, toxicology. Introducing in the market a preventive tool for detecting viruses and to overcome critical barriers in the HAIs will increase confidence in the technology applicability to these other areas.
VirAIR has an important potential impact on society, as the commercialization of the here proposed novel technology will directly impact on patients, public health systems and governments (responsible for facing epidemics) and economy, as an efficient, quantitative early alert system for infectious agents as proposed here, could avoid drastic measures as confinement and business closures when they are not necessary. The main beneficiaries of VirAIR technology will be health care systems, by reducing costs associated to hospital infections and patients hospitalizations due to the reduced health risks, as well as the society as a whole in case of a pandemic as COVID-19. Also, rapid and accurate identification of emerging pathogens is essential to avoid outbreaks and pandemic spread of new diseases. A key step will be the identification of pathogens quickly, easily and effectively when it is in the environment, as a method to prevent spread of the infection. This is addressed with this novel route to detect viral particles in air through their intrinsic physical properties, alerting the health systems that can then take measures to reduce its propagation based in reliable data. Providing a novel tool for detecting pathogens in air will positively impact in the economy of European Health services, since preventive medicine will contribute to reduce the number of infected patients and as consequence, reducing costs associated to hospitalizations, treatments, drugs, etc., avoiding the lock-down of cities and thus avoiding to block the global economic activity.
VirAIR will accelerate the translation of scientific discovery into commercial technology through the developed business plan and investors’ attraction plan. Being at the forefront of the application of nanomechanics for the monitoring of pathogens in air poses a formidable opportunity to increase competitiveness of the European biotech industry and to offer new market opportunities to innovative companies, creating new employment opportunities.
VirAIR has an important potential impact on society, as the commercialization of the here proposed novel technology will directly impact on patients, public health systems and governments (responsible for facing epidemics) and economy, as an efficient, quantitative early alert system for infectious agents as proposed here, could avoid drastic measures as confinement and business closures when they are not necessary. The main beneficiaries of VirAIR technology will be health care systems, by reducing costs associated to hospital infections and patients hospitalizations due to the reduced health risks, as well as the society as a whole in case of a pandemic as COVID-19. Also, rapid and accurate identification of emerging pathogens is essential to avoid outbreaks and pandemic spread of new diseases. A key step will be the identification of pathogens quickly, easily and effectively when it is in the environment, as a method to prevent spread of the infection. This is addressed with this novel route to detect viral particles in air through their intrinsic physical properties, alerting the health systems that can then take measures to reduce its propagation based in reliable data. Providing a novel tool for detecting pathogens in air will positively impact in the economy of European Health services, since preventive medicine will contribute to reduce the number of infected patients and as consequence, reducing costs associated to hospitalizations, treatments, drugs, etc., avoiding the lock-down of cities and thus avoiding to block the global economic activity.
VirAIR will accelerate the translation of scientific discovery into commercial technology through the developed business plan and investors’ attraction plan. Being at the forefront of the application of nanomechanics for the monitoring of pathogens in air poses a formidable opportunity to increase competitiveness of the European biotech industry and to offer new market opportunities to innovative companies, creating new employment opportunities.