In the first 18 months, significant advancements were made in respect to the LIBRA objectives:
- Objective 1: The objective of developing miniaturized Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) on the TriPleX platform for Raman spectroscopy sensing and refractive index sensing has progressed significantly by M18. The work is focused on developing both active and passive PICs, each serving distinct roles within the LIBRA system. By considering the progress on tasks related to LioniX International and completion of them is considered that the progress of the project is in line with the given deadlines.
-Objective 2: In the LIBRA project, dummy Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) were placed in microfluidic modules optimized for development, allowing microscope access to the PIC surface. When permanent magnets were activated, pathogens bound to magnetic beads were successfully concentrated on the PIC surface. A preconcentration unit, developed with DEMCON, was designed to be reusable, separating it from the disposable aMZI microfluidic module to reduce plastic waste. Although tested only with magnetic beads (not pathogens), the unit achieved a preconcentration factor of 2.3x. Notably, LIBRA's unique "FcMBL beads" can capture any bacterial species, surpassing commercial options.
-Objective 3: The LIBRA project advanced data analysis by organizing Raman data into time-series datasets and conducting extensive Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA) to clean and optimize the data. Key features were identified, dimensionality reduction techniques were applied, and feature engineering was used to enrich the dataset, resulting in a well-prepared dataset for machine learning model training.
- Objective 4: The LIBRA project developed AI models for contamination prediction by integrating sensory data from multiple sources and using Neuroevolution techniques for rapid and efficient model creation. The models were designed for accuracy, adaptability, and included Explainable AI features for transparency and user trust.
-Objective 5: Deliverable D2.4 of the project presented a concept design for the LIBRA system, based on user interviews and risk assessments. It included details on cartridge designs and sub-systems. Currently, technical partners are finalizing the detailed design, and DEMCON has developed a plan for integrating LIBRA prototypes for system verification and validation, outlined in deliverable D2.5.
-Objective 6: By month 18, a lab system for real-time measurements on passive aMZI and Raman chips was developed with Optagon, Lionix, and NTUA. The first batch of aMZI chips and the alignment and microfluidic systems were tested successfully, and the system is now prepared for testing biofunctionalized aMZI chips with specific bioanalytes.
- Objective 7: ECOVAMED assessed the carbon footprint of various monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) from a pharmaceutical company, calculating new emission factors for high-impact single-use consumables like bags, filters, and tubing. They also estimated global savings in time, energy, waste, and raw materials for these products, and studied key aspects of photosynthetic experiments based on CNR's experiences.
