Biological diagnostic tools using microsystems and supersensitive magnetic detection

Objective

The objective of the proposed project is to develop new medical diagnostic tools based on the most sensitive detector technologies available today. A common denominator for the technologies is reading out the biological state in the magnetic domain. This will be accomplished by using both magnetic nanoparticles as substrates or tags for biological reactions and reading out the atomic nuclear spin. The latter technology is a development from the inductive readout in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). The technology used in this project is a pure magnetic field read-out system, which quite contrary to the inductive method has a sensitivity which is more or less independent of frequency and magnetic field down to very low fields. The several competing technologies will be benchmarked against each other with a model system consisting of biotin and streptavidine in order to gain a unique understanding of the differences and advantages with the different systems. To validate the concept(s), real diagnostic test will be done on in vitro detection of F1 antigen (y. pestis) Mycobacterium tuberculosis in urine samples and detection of Yersinia pestis F1 antigen in environmental samples (bio terrorism). Further to the validation, neuroimaging and instrumentation for diagnosis of neurological diseases will be investigated in vivo.

Programme(s)

• FP6-NMP - Nanotechnologies and nanosciences, knowledge-based multifunctional materials and new production processes and devices: thematic priority 3 under the 'Focusing and integrating community research' of the 'Integrating and strengthening the European Research Area' specific programme 2002-2006.

Topic(s)

• NMP-2004-IST-NMP-2 - Bio-sensors for Diagnosis and Healthcare

Call for proposal

FP6-2004-IST-NMP-2
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Funding Scheme

Coordinator

Participants (12)