Fingerprinting Single Protein Molecules for Biomarker Assisted Precision Medicine

Projektinformationen

SM-ProTrack

ID Finanzhilfevereinbarung: 101188779

DOI

10.3030/101188779

Projekt abgeschlossen

EK-Unterschriftsdatum 26 August 2024

Startdatum 1 September 2024

Enddatum 30 Juni 2026

Finanziert unter

• European Research Council (ERC)

Gesamtkosten

Keine Daten

EU-Beitrag

€ 150 000,00

Koordiniert durch

TECHNION - ISRAEL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Israel

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SM-ProTrack (Fingerprinting Single Protein Molecules for Biomarker Assisted Precision Medicine)

Berichtszeitraum: 2024-09-01 bis 2026-06-30

Zusammenfassung vom Kontext und den Gesamtzielen des Projekts

Protein molecule sensing techniques are currently hampered by detection limits and require large samples to achieve acceptable levels of sensitivity, bias, throughput, cost, and time to result. Leveraging findings from our NanoProt-ID (ADG ERC), in SM-ProTrack we will develop a novel single-molecule sensing method with unprecedented levels of detail and accuracy. This technology is based on the separation of molecules using silicon nano-channels on a chip, tracking of single molecules, and high-precision identification using AI algorithms. Thus, the technology allows detection of multiplexed, full-length single proteins, from extremely small sample volumes, in a low-cost, portable device.

To advance the clinical relevancy of the technology and build specific commercial value, we will apply it to diagnostics and prognostics of Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) based on liquid biopsy. AMD represents 90% of cases of legal blindness globally, affecting ~200 million people’s life quality. To date, a quantitative sensing of AMD biomarkers, has not been possible due to the extremely small volumes of the clinical eye-derived aqueous humour (AH) sample and low abundance of the AMD biomarkers. In collaboration with a leading AMD ophthalmologist, SM-ProTrack will advance the technology to full proof-of-principle validation using AMD clinical samples, hence building a solid commercialization case while addressing an unmet global need.

SM-ProTrack will pave the way for a low-cost, highly sensitive technology for single protein molecule sensing, that can provide rapid and accurate results from dilute and small clinical sample volumes with minimal biases. Validated in the field of AMD biomarkers, our technology can be further applied in many other liquid biopsy diagnostics fields.

Arbeit, die ab Beginn des Projekts bis zum Ende des durch den Bericht erfassten Berichtszeitraums geleistet wurde, und die wichtigsten bis dahin erzielten Ergebnisse

To date we have worked on several parallel objectives:

1) Upscaling the device sensing capacity, accuracy, and multiplexing ability. We have recently demonstrated our ability to resolve aa-specific, dually labelled proteins, in our custom nano-channel device.
These results support the feasibility of our approach and demonstrate its potential using sets of cytokine proteins and two VEGF isoforms.

2) Vavstly increasing protein sensing throughput by creating multi-channel devices allowing the sensing of multiple samples.

3) Improve the protein identification accuracy and the level of multiplexity (# of different proteins identified simultaneously). A key achievement is the ability to re-sense same protein batch many times, by reversing the electrical field back and forth, hence greatly increasing overall data throughput.

4) Improving protein labelling bioconjugation yield and consistency across proteins. Specifically for the AMD biomarkers we have achieved high quality, chemo-selective bio conjugation.

Fortschritte, die über den aktuellen Stand der Technik hinausgehen und voraussichtliche potenzielle Auswirkungen (einschließlich der bis dato erzielten sozioökonomischen Auswirkungen und weiter gefassten gesellschaftlichen Auswirkungen des Projekts)

Many of the realists above are novel and beyond the state of the art.
We are working on a number of key publications in the next months. This will assist us in our Commercialization efforts.