Final Report Summary - BIODIAGNOSTICS (Biological diagnostic tools using microsystems and supersensitive magnetic detection)
The developed technologies will be exploited across a range of carefully chosen applications. Of particular importance are nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as the programme will aim to enhance this field in several directions. The work on tailored magnetic nanoparticles will allow the development of new target specific contrast agents for NMR and MRI.
The instrument developed within the framework of work package (WP) 3.1 is a magnetic susceptometer which is already in use for the magnetic characterisation of the nanoparticles. It is also possible to follow the binding reactions of different substances to the surface of the particles. This instrument is aimed to be commercialised.
Superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) systems will also be used to provide low noise readout schemes for low-frequency broadband NMR, and MRI, which can be applied in lower magnetic fields and with improved spatial resolution.
Instrumentation based on SQUID sensors, which senses the dynamics of functionalised magnetic nanoparticles will be built to read out immunoassay arrays, and to detect the transport of magnetic nanoparticles in vivo. The SQUID-packaging and the liquid sample handling will be built from micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) circuits, where the interfacing between the SQUID sensor and the specimen will yield ultimate readout properties. The project will develop and use the strong SQUID sensor development in Europe based both on low and high transition temperature superconductors (LTS and HTS) depending on the application. In new configurations the SQUID magnetometer or gradiometer will serve as readout for the dynamics of magnetic nanoparticles dressed with e.g. antibodies, which will either be immobilised through a reaction to a pre-patterned surface or have a change in their hydrodynamic volume from the reaction. Since the immobilised or the reacted particles have different magnetic dynamics compared to the unreacted particles they can be detected in the same volume, which is impossible with most other techniques. Studies have shown a detection improvement of an order of magnitude compared to the commonly used enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and predictions point to two or possibly three orders of magnitude in improvement. The studies could be performed in vitro or in vivo. The program will make advances in four major scientific directions, which combined will initiate studies in cross-disciplinary fields between biophysics, medicine, electronics, and motivate fundamental studies in nanoscience. The combination of these research fields together with the end user perspectives will ensure the relevance of the application as well as utilise top ranked expertise in each different field in order to achieve the individual and cross-disciplinary goals.
The instrument developed within the framework of work package (WP) 3.1 is a magnetic susceptometer which is already in use for the magnetic characterisation of the nanoparticles. It is also possible to follow the binding reactions of different substances to the surface of the particles. This instrument is aimed to be commercialised.
Superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) systems will also be used to provide low noise readout schemes for low-frequency broadband NMR, and MRI, which can be applied in lower magnetic fields and with improved spatial resolution.
Instrumentation based on SQUID sensors, which senses the dynamics of functionalised magnetic nanoparticles will be built to read out immunoassay arrays, and to detect the transport of magnetic nanoparticles in vivo. The SQUID-packaging and the liquid sample handling will be built from micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) circuits, where the interfacing between the SQUID sensor and the specimen will yield ultimate readout properties. The project will develop and use the strong SQUID sensor development in Europe based both on low and high transition temperature superconductors (LTS and HTS) depending on the application. In new configurations the SQUID magnetometer or gradiometer will serve as readout for the dynamics of magnetic nanoparticles dressed with e.g. antibodies, which will either be immobilised through a reaction to a pre-patterned surface or have a change in their hydrodynamic volume from the reaction. Since the immobilised or the reacted particles have different magnetic dynamics compared to the unreacted particles they can be detected in the same volume, which is impossible with most other techniques. Studies have shown a detection improvement of an order of magnitude compared to the commonly used enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and predictions point to two or possibly three orders of magnitude in improvement. The studies could be performed in vitro or in vivo. The program will make advances in four major scientific directions, which combined will initiate studies in cross-disciplinary fields between biophysics, medicine, electronics, and motivate fundamental studies in nanoscience. The combination of these research fields together with the end user perspectives will ensure the relevance of the application as well as utilise top ranked expertise in each different field in order to achieve the individual and cross-disciplinary goals.
