Project description
Portable sensing technology for metabolite detection
The analysis of small molecules in biological samples offers significant insights into human health and plant physiology. However, current detection methods rely on expensive and technically demanding laboratory equipment with limited use in routine or field-based analysis. There is a pressing need for simpler, portable alternatives capable of detecting multiple metabolites simultaneously. Building on previous research, the ERC-funded SupraPlate project aims to develop a range of supramolecular sensors into multiplexed sensor plates that can be deployed in diverse laboratory settings. These sensors will detect amino acids, polyamines and other key metabolites at a fraction of the cost compared to standard methods. Potential applications include clinical diagnostics, preventive healthcare and agricultural monitoring.
Objective
SupraPlate addresses a pressing unmet need by enabling robust, decentralised analysis of small-molecule biomarkers. Amino acids, polyamines, catecholamines, and indolic metabolites are established and emerging indicators of human health and plant physiology, yet their quantification still relies mostly on chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) pipelines that are costly, technically demanding, and unsuitable for field-based use. Existing biomolecule-based assays, such as those employing enzymes or antibodies, are typically limited to single analytes and constrained by cold-chain logistics.
Building on our ERC CoG project, where we create a portfolio of supramolecular sensors (“SupraSensors”) that operate at physiologically relevant concentrations, SupraPlate will now explore the translational step. It will develop multiplexed sensor plates deployable in diverse laboratories for detecting small-molecule bioactive compounds.
Specifically, the SupraSensors will be immobilised as dry, shelf-stable films, embedded with calibrants, and shielded by protective layers. These plates/chips will be compatible with both standard and next-generation portable plate readers. Dedicated software will deconvolute the cross-reactive response patterns into absolute concentrations of multiple metabolites in parallel.
The project will demonstrate feasibility through comparative studies with clinical and plant-science partners. By delivering quantitative readouts at a fraction of the cost and complexity of LC–MS, SupraPlate establishes the foundation for a new generation of decentralised metabolite diagnostics. This creates pathways from preventive healthcare to agritech monitoring and offers a technology platform attractive to investors and industrial partners. In the longer term, the same principles could enable true point-of-care and even home-use devices, empowering individuals to monitor health, stress, or nutrient status, and allowing farmers to track plant health in the field.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences computer and information sciences software
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering sensors
- medical and health sciences basic medicine physiology
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins enzymes
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC-POC - HORIZON ERC Proof of Concept Grants
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2025-POC
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
76131 Karlsruhe
Germany
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.