Periodic Report Summary - BISNES (Bio-inspired self-assembled nano-enabled surfaces)
The bedrock of the BISNES project is the recent development of advanced nanofabrication techniques capable of creating nano-structured surfaces at a resolution that is either sub-molecular (up to few tens of nanometers) or sub-supra-molecular (up to around 100 nanometers), the latter on large areas. The high resolution nano-structured surfaces are designed to 'mirror' biomolecular surfaces and thus enabling them to interact 'smartly' and specifically with target biomolecules. Alternatively, the large areas/lower resolution surfaces are designed to elicit a desired response from larger, long-range self-assembled biomolecules, thus relaxing the design and fabrication challenges. A third critical aspect is the realisation of the capability of creating hybrid bio-non-bio nano-structures that preserve or amplify the biological functions of embedded biomolecules.
Capitalising on these strategic opportunities, BISNES focuses on the design, fabrication and implementation of biomimetic nanostructured surfaces which purposely complement biomolecular surfaces and hence modulate the biomolecular activity at molecular or sub/molecular level. This cross-disciplinary approach will synergise the European first-class position in nanofabrication and biomolecular engineering, respectively, through cross-field applications and will augment the high added-value of European biomedical, advanced manufacturing and IT industry.
The project proposes to:
(i) design and fabricate nanostructured surfaces and objects that replicate biomolecular surfaces, especially those that self-assemble in long-range nano-aggregates, interacting with artificial nanostructures, or biomolecular functions;
(ii) develop algorithms and software products for the representation and quantification of biomolecular surfaces; and using the results from these two research modules
(iii)design, fabricate and implement novel hybrid bio-devices which exhibit quantum-leap increase in, or entirely new capabilities (e.g. sensitivity, response time, cost).
The project will deliver demonstrated technical solutions for the design, fabrication and implementation of nanostructured surfaces with impact on a wide range of applications and products: ultra-sensitive bio-diagnostics and drug discovery devices; inherently bactericidal surfaces, medical devices for the in vitro study of amyloid and cytoskeleton proteins, which are central to critical diseases (e.g. neurodegenerative diseases, cancer); and hybrid nanodevices that exhibit new electromagnetic properties useful for future IT devices.
The BISNES consortium partners, namely t he University of Liverpool, UK (UoL), Philips Electronics Nederland B. V., the Netherlands (Philips), the University of Bologna, Italy (UniBo), the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, France (CNRS), IMS Nanofabrication AG, Austria (IMS-NANO), NIL Technology ApS, Denmark (NILT), BiOMaDe Technology Foundation, the Netherlands (BMD), the University 'Politehnica' of Bucharest, Romania (UPB) and Monash University, Australia (MUAUS), form a highly complementary research team, but also presenting a healthy degree of intra-skill cooperation, in several project dimensions, as follows:
- Science, technology and engineering, with expertise in nanofabrication (Philips, NILT, IMS-NANO, UoL); molecular biology of membrane and amyloid proteins (UniBo, BMD, UoL, MUAUS); surface characterisation (UoL, CNRS, Philips, MUAUS); and simulation (UoL, UPB).
- Type of activity: four universities (UoL, UniBo, UPB, MUAUS), one research Institute (CNRS), one industry (Philips) and three SMEs (IMS-NANO, NILT and BMD).
- International dimension beyond Europe.
Of particular interest is that all industrial beneficiaries are SMEs or have a tradition of spinning-off companies (Philips' business philosophy is based on the spin-off of incubated small companies).
Capitalising on these strategic opportunities, BISNES focuses on the design, fabrication and implementation of biomimetic nanostructured surfaces which purposely complement biomolecular surfaces and hence modulate the biomolecular activity at molecular or sub/molecular level. This cross-disciplinary approach will synergise the European first-class position in nanofabrication and biomolecular engineering, respectively, through cross-field applications and will augment the high added-value of European biomedical, advanced manufacturing and IT industry.
The project proposes to:
(i) design and fabricate nanostructured surfaces and objects that replicate biomolecular surfaces, especially those that self-assemble in long-range nano-aggregates, interacting with artificial nanostructures, or biomolecular functions;
(ii) develop algorithms and software products for the representation and quantification of biomolecular surfaces; and using the results from these two research modules
(iii)design, fabricate and implement novel hybrid bio-devices which exhibit quantum-leap increase in, or entirely new capabilities (e.g. sensitivity, response time, cost).
The project will deliver demonstrated technical solutions for the design, fabrication and implementation of nanostructured surfaces with impact on a wide range of applications and products: ultra-sensitive bio-diagnostics and drug discovery devices; inherently bactericidal surfaces, medical devices for the in vitro study of amyloid and cytoskeleton proteins, which are central to critical diseases (e.g. neurodegenerative diseases, cancer); and hybrid nanodevices that exhibit new electromagnetic properties useful for future IT devices.
The BISNES consortium partners, namely t he University of Liverpool, UK (UoL), Philips Electronics Nederland B. V., the Netherlands (Philips), the University of Bologna, Italy (UniBo), the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, France (CNRS), IMS Nanofabrication AG, Austria (IMS-NANO), NIL Technology ApS, Denmark (NILT), BiOMaDe Technology Foundation, the Netherlands (BMD), the University 'Politehnica' of Bucharest, Romania (UPB) and Monash University, Australia (MUAUS), form a highly complementary research team, but also presenting a healthy degree of intra-skill cooperation, in several project dimensions, as follows:
- Science, technology and engineering, with expertise in nanofabrication (Philips, NILT, IMS-NANO, UoL); molecular biology of membrane and amyloid proteins (UniBo, BMD, UoL, MUAUS); surface characterisation (UoL, CNRS, Philips, MUAUS); and simulation (UoL, UPB).
- Type of activity: four universities (UoL, UniBo, UPB, MUAUS), one research Institute (CNRS), one industry (Philips) and three SMEs (IMS-NANO, NILT and BMD).
- International dimension beyond Europe.
Of particular interest is that all industrial beneficiaries are SMEs or have a tradition of spinning-off companies (Philips' business philosophy is based on the spin-off of incubated small companies).