Development of photonic multi-sensing systems based on molecular-gates biorecognition and plasmonic sensors

Project Information

PHOTONGATE

Grant agreement ID: 101093042

DOI

10.3030/101093042

Project closed

EC signature date 17 November 2022

Start date 1 December 2022

End date 31 May 2026

Funded under

• Digital, Industry and Space

Total cost

€ 4 549 249,75

EU contribution

€ 4 549 248,75

Coordinated by

UNIVERSITAT POLITECNICA DE VALENCIA
Spain

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - PHOTONGATE (Development of photonic multi-sensing systems based on molecular-gates biorecognition and plasmonic sensors)

Reporting period: 2022-12-01 to 2024-05-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

In our daily life, we are exposed to multiple health threatens, such as pathogens (viruses, bacteria, fungus, etc.) and hazardous chemicals (dioxins, lead, mercury, bioactive amines, etc.). These entities/substances can be present nearly anywhere due to many different reasons, such as environmental pollution, seasonal viruses or even biological/chemical warfare, etc. Their uncontrolled spread may trigger tremendous crisis which may rapidly affect our day-to-day life, businesses and even disrupt the world trade and movements. It is widely recognized that taking fast and effective actions to any crisis is of paramount importance to prevent its escalation and thus, reducing greatly its impact. For this to happen, it is crucial to have rapid access to reliable and relevant data which provides a thorough picture of the problem. In terms of human health crisis caused by hazardous substances, it means to have rapid access to reliable identification, i.e. with high specificity, sensitivity and multiple quantification of the threatening entities/substances.
As crucial as it is having a solution that allows rapidly detecting multiple analytes on a massive scale, it also is ensuring the availability of that solution. Recent crisis, as COVID-19 pandemia, has shown that technological sovereignty is particularly important in the case of health threatens and there is an urgent need to develop next generation multi-sensing photonic and electronic systems for health threatening sensing Made in Europe.
PHOTONGATE aims at developing a sensing solution adaptable to the target analytes of interest. PHOTONGATE will allow to quantify multiple analytes of the same or different nature (biomolecules, chemicals, metals, bacteria, etc.) in a single test with lower time to response than currently lab systems and with easier operation not requiring of high-skilled personnel. PHOTONGATE is based on the combination of two core technologies. On the one hand, a bio-chemical technology (molecular gates) integrated with nanostructured systems, which will confer the specificity to the system and will allow an increased sensitivity (bio-recognition amplification system). And, on the other hand, a photonic technology (light interaction with Local Surface Plasmonic Resonance (LSPR) structures) working as transducers and allowing the quantification.

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

PHOTONGATE system is comprised of two main components, the sensing module and the readout platform.
Regarding the sensing module, during this period, different approaches to get mesoporous silica materials, acting as support of the biorecognition layer, have been developed using different synthesis procedures as sol-gel bottom-up methodology to synthesize silica substrates or the use of surfactants as disposable templates for the synthesis of mesoporous nanostructured SiO2 . Moreover, molecular gates for different targets (SARS-CoV-2, RSV, Methylmercury, Histamine, Listeria, Influenza A and Influenza B have been synthesized (using aptamers and/or oligonucleotides-based solutions) and integrated with the porous substrates. Finally, optical transducers based on an array (multisensing) of Local Surface Plasmonic Resonance structures have been designed, fabricated and tested. Global integration on the tree components inside the microfluidics cartridge (also developed in PHOTONGATE) have been reached and currently testing work to sense the targeted analytes is ongoing.
Regarding the PHOTONGATE readout platform, a first mono channel prototype was developed capable of performing the interrogation of one sensor, optimizing all the optical components and the overall layout. A second prototype, capable of reading multiple sensors (performing multianalyte sensing) have been also developed and tested. In parallel, hydraulics (including pumps, tube and controls) have been also developed and will be integrated with the optical part of the platform.

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)

PHOTONGATE proposes a very innovative solution which aims at contributing to achieve the Next generation multi-sensing photonic and electronic systems with increased integration of new functionalities, decreased size and cost-effective manufacturing. Concretely PHOTONGATE solution allows:
• The use of the same device to detect different hazards of different nature.
• High integration as plasmonic sensors are fabricated with nano/microfabrication techniques used at wafer scale.
• Finally, PHOTONGATE platform configuration allow flowing the sample to analyse above the photonic sensors, whilst optical signals are acquired from the bottom part of the area. In addition, there are no high restrictions for the alignment of the sensing module achieving a cost-effective manufacturing in comparison with other techniques.
To ensure further success of the project a deep market analysis of health and food safety markets have been initiated. Further research to ensure reproducibility is required as well as a more detailed analysis of certification and official validation issues what is a cleat barrier to overcome to have the chance of entry in these markets with strict regulations. Also IPR of the different exploitable results have been analyzed and it will be developed in the near future.