Autonomous Living Cell analYsis ON-chip for Evaluation of space Environment Effects: low-power integrated lab-on-chip for the assessment of radiation damage on living systems in nanosatellite missions

Project Information

ALCYONE

Grant agreement ID: 101082679

DOI

10.3030/101082679

Project closed

EC signature date 14 October 2022

Start date 1 January 2023

End date 31 March 2026

Funded under

• Digital, Industry and Space

Total cost

€ 1 566 513,75

EU contribution

€ 1 507 925,00

Coordinated by

UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI ROMA LA SAPIENZA
Italy

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - ALCYONE (Autonomous Living Cell analYsis ON-chip for Evaluation of space Environment Effects: low-power integrated lab-on-chip for the assessment of radiation damage on living systems in nanosatellite missions)

Reporting period: 2023-01-01 to 2024-06-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Long-term missions in space are inefficient and dangerous for humans due to the risks of high radiation exposure. Unfortunately, solutions have yet to be found. One reason for this is that it’s also difficult to carry out the necessary research. The EU-funded ALCYONE project aims to change this by developing an innovative analytical platform. In conjunction with new technologies, it will allow for research and analysis in situ of space environment effects on model biological systems and further contribute to researching novel shielding solutions. The project will design a lab-on-chip with thin-film sensors and actuators that will use bioluminescence to study cell cultures and radiation effects on them during space missions.
The project aims at the design and realization of a new analytical platform implementing a series of innovative technologies able to provide a highly-integrated solution for the analysis in-situ of the effects of the space environment on model biological systems and for the evaluation of shielding technologies combined with radioprotective agents. The main objective of the project will be achieved through the development of a lab-on-chip device with integrated thin-film sensors and actuators that will implement an extremely compact cell-incubator capable to sample the status of the cell culture during a space mission using real-time monitoring techniques based on bioluminescence. Genetically modified cell lines are being developed to monitor specific stress responses relying on a luciferase-based reporter system. An electronic system will be integrated in the platform for the characterization of the radiation environment allowing to evaluate the correlation between observed biological effects and radiation exposure. The main features of the proposed technology include low power consumption, extreme compactness, high data efficiency and full automation, making it suitable for CubeSat missions. In particular, a complete CubeSat payload will be designed to address and solve any integration issue and to provide a test bench for a preliminary set of experiments to be carried out on ground facilities simulating the deep space environment. The proposed system will therefore represent a key element to pave the route toward deep space human mission as it offers the possibility to test the effects of long-term exposure to the space environment on model biological systems using simple platforms as CubeSat. This opens new scenarios where minor effort will be required to plan multiple low-cost missions for improving the risk modeling and for testing new countermeasures in a continuous-improvement scheme.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

# WP1: Management and Coordination
- Established a robust management framework based on a concurrent engineering approach.
- Implemented a dual-platform Integrated Design Model (IDM) using MS Excel and Valispace for real-time data integration and collaborative design.
- Provided consistent technical support and coordination across work packages.

# WP2: Biosensor Development
- Selected BgLuc and Luc2P for efficient bioluminescence-based cell monitoring.
- Developed shuttle plasmids for DNA damage detection in bacteria and cyanobacteria.
- Created yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and mammalian cell (HEK-293T, HeLa) biosensors for radiation and inflammation detection based on bioluminescence.

# WP3: Lab-on-Chip Incubator Development
- Starting from the functional and operational requirements collected by WP1, a modular three-layer lab-on-chip device with integrated sensors and actuators was designed.
- Key features:
- high modularity,
- micro-gravity operation capability based on combination of chip layout and material selection
- independent electrical and fluidic interfaces.
- Conducted functional tests on fabricated prototypes, including optical response, temperature measurement, and fluidic tests.

# WP4: Dosimetry System Development
- Developed a compact, low-noise hybrid pixelated detector using TI-LGAD (Trench Isolated Low Gain Avalanche Diode) technology.
- Designed a modular readout architecture for multiple ALCYONE detectors.
- Created PCBs for data acquisition and integration with commercial evaluation cards.
- Procured main components, developed custom sensor layout, and established bump-bonding technology.

# WP5: System Integration
- Defined the analytical device system and internal interfaces using an Interface Control Document (ICD).
- Designed a Graphical User Interface (GUI) for system control and protocol automation.
- Defined a preliminary fluidic architecture and identified key fluidic components.

# WP6: Dissemination and Communication
- Established project identity and various communication channels (website, social media, press releases).
- Presented ALCYONE at international events and conferences.
- Developed a Plan for Exploitation and Dissemination of Results and a Data Management Plan.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

# WP1: Advanced Integrated Design Model (IDM)
- Comprehensive system encapsulating all ALCYONE components, their requirements, properties, and inter-relations.
- Real-time, collaborative access to multi-dimensional project representation.
- Advanced simulations and trade-off analyses capabilities, facilitating rapid decision-making.

# WP2: Innovative Biosensors
- Developed a cyanobacterium-based biosensor for deep space radiation monitoring, leveraging its desiccation and radiation tolerance.
- Created bioluminescence-based yeast and mammalian cell biosensors for CubeSat missions, a previously unexplored application.

# WP3: Advanced Lab-on-Chip Design
- Three-layer modular architecture with separate sensors, actuators, and microfluidic layers.
- Design takes into account all the system aspects in parallel: the biological requirements, the technological constraints, the ease of fabrication and testing, the operation in micro-gravity conditions and the lab-on-chip interfacing.
- Geometry and materials optimized for micro-gravity conditions with sidewall microfluidic connections and sandwich-type electrical contacts.
- Integrated thin-film sensors and actuators for accurate local control and sensitive bioluminescence measurement.

# WP4: Novel Dosimetry System
- First-in-world use of TI-LGAD technology in dosimeters, overcoming limitations of traditional LGAD technology.
- Achieved high spatial resolution and high fill factor through trench isolation technique.
- Single-particle resolution detection and energy measurement in high-particle-rate conditions.
- Maintained low power consumption for efficient radiation detection and measurement.

# WP5: Innovative Microfluidic System
- Developed a miniaturized fluidic dispensing subsystem suitable for space applications.
- Advanced bubble management for microgravity environments.
- Innovative fluidics concept compared to classical bench fluidics for microfluidic chips.

The ALCYONE project has made significant advancements in space research technology, offering innovative solutions for radiation monitoring, biological experiments, and system integration. These developments contribute substantially to the future of deep space exploration and long-term human missions, pushing the boundaries of current technological capabilities in space research.

Side view of the ALCYONE chip showing the fluidic inlets and outlets.

ALCYONE dosemeter electronics with Timepix3

Bottom view (sensors side) of the ALCYONE lab-on-chip assembled prototype.

Top view (heaters side) of the ALCYONE lab-on-chip with the thin-film metallic heaters in forground.