The IONOSENSE PoC project proposed a novel solution to enable label-free, electronic monitoring of live cells in vitro, using innovative organic bioelectronic technology. The device, the organic electrochemical transistor (OECT), integrated with live cells forming a tissue, has been shown to accurately assess the integrity of the cells, providing dynamic, highly sensitive measurements after exposure to toxins/pathogens. Validation against traditional, optical methods, or commercially available electronic monitoring equipment demonstrated the OECT to have equal or improved sensitivity and temporal resolution. As an added bonus, the OECT is fabricated using conducting polymers, which are not only amenable to low cost processing techniques, but are also optically transparent, yielding devices compatible with high resolution imaging techniques, of critical importance to life scientists. During the PoC project, we focused on three main outputs:
1. Development of a prototype device on 12-well plate
2. Market research/ intellectual property research
3. Development and initial execution of exploitation strategy
Our goal has been to take this extremely promising technological breakthrough developed in an academic environment, and transition it to a prototype suitable for future commercialization. One year on, the three main aims of the project have been successfully achieved: a prototype device has been designed and is in the characterization phase, intellectual property has been identified and a patent has been submitted, a full market research report has been carried out, and discussions with future business partners are underway. Another important result of the project is that two of the scientists hired on the POC project have been hired by a company which has been created in the business incubator at EMSE, and with whom discussions are underway for commercialization of this project.
