Photonics for Healthcare: multiscAle cancer diagnosiS and Therapy

Project Information

PHAST

Grant agreement ID: 860185

DOI

10.3030/860185

Project closed

EC signature date 26 June 2020

Start date 1 September 2020

End date 31 January 2025

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 3 939 917,76

EU contribution

€ 3 939 917,76

Coordinated by

UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI PARMA
Italy

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - PHAST (Photonics for Healthcare: multiscAle cancer diagnosiS and Therapy)

Reporting period: 2022-09-01 to 2025-01-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The PHAST-ETN project has developed a comprehensive and innovative doctoral training programme in biophotonics to advance diagnostics and therapy in oncology. The project aims to shape a new generation of highly skilled, multidisciplinary scientists by offering a personalized PhD track encompassing research, technological innovation, and clinical translation. The focus lies on early cancer diagnosis, targeted treatment, and non-invasive therapy monitoring through optical technologies.
The research and training activities are structured around four main objectives:
1. In-vitro cancer diagnosis using optical spectroscopy paired with novel sampling techniques for point-of-care (POC) applications.
2. Tissue diagnostics and functional monitoring through optical fibre-based biopsy and diffuse optical spectroscopy.
3. Microscale therapy guidance by real-time optical imaging of tumour margins during surgical procedures.
4. Macroscale therapy effectiveness monitoring via diffuse spectroscopy, fibre sensors, and multimodal imaging systems.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

OBJ1 – Optical In-vitro Cancer Diagnostics
• Development of SERS-based sensors embedded in photonic crystal fibers (PCFs) for sensitive detection of miRNA sequences and their bases.
• Tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) studies of miRNA components to increase diagnostic accuracy.
• SERS combined with molecular dynamics (MD) analysis to detect cancer markers in saliva.
• Characterization of earwax (cerumen) using advanced spectroscopic techniques, leading to POC machine learning-based diagnosis of head and neck cancer.
• Application of Raman and multimodal imaging to investigate lipid involvement in breast cancer on ex-vivo tissue samples.
OBJ2 – Tissue Diagnostics and Functional Monitoring
• Design of distributed optical fibre pressure sensors for vascular lesion detection in coronary arteries, enabling diagnosis of angiogenesis using iFR-guided strategies.
• Simultaneous, real-time measurement of tissue oxygenation and blood flow for metabolic biomarker analysis in pre-clinical models.
• Breakthroughs in time-domain diffuse optical spectroscopy (TD-DOS) enabling deep tissue diagnostics with improved resolution and penetration.
OBJ3 – Microscale Cancer Monitoring with Multimodal Imaging
• Implementation of a compact, high-resolution multimodal endomicroscopic imaging and therapy platform combining coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS), two-photon excited fluorescence (TPEF), second harmonic generation (SHG), and femtosecond laser ablation for diagnosis and treatment of head and neck cancers.
• Implementation of an ultrahigh-resolution multimodal imaging platform (MUW) combining OCT, line scan Raman spectroscopy (LSRM), and multiphoton microscopy (MPM including SHG and TPEF) to detect subtle structural, textural, metabolic, and molecular changes during oncogenesis.
• Integration of multimodal capabilities into endoscope designs allowing different numerical apertures for OCT and multiphoton microscopy; deployment of a novel dispersion-free KAGOME hollow core fiber
• Integration of a 2D MEMS mirror into a flexible nonlinear endomicroscope and the development of calibration strategies to compensate for Lissajous scanning distortions, enabling high-fidelity image reconstruction.
OBJ4 – Macroscale Therapy Effectiveness Monitoring
• Design, manufacturing, and testing of bioresorbable phosphate glass fibres and capillaries for minimally invasive diagnostics.
• Fabrication of anthropomorphic tissue phantoms simulating prostate and adjacent organs for optical calibration and surgical planning.
• Enrollment of 12 patients and development of the analysis of clinical data for monitoring and prediction of neoadjuvant chemotherapy efficacy.
• Creation of a preliminary automated system for intraoperative tissue classification and guidance in gastrointestinal surgeries.
• Development of a multimodal hyperspectral imaging sensor for lung tissue analysis and surgical guidance.

Exploitation
PHAST-ETN has generated numerous exploitable outcomes in the areas of biosensing, spectroscopy, machine learning, and optical instrumentation. These include methodologies for biomarker detection, fibre-optic sensor prototypes, data processing algorithms, and standard operating procedures for in-vitro and in-vivo optical diagnostics. A patent on fibre-optic pressure sensors has been filed, with additional IP evaluations underway.
The exploitation strategy integrates academic dissemination, industrial partnerships, and commercialization planning. Technology readiness levels are progressing, with marketable developments expected between 2025 and 2026. Long-term commercialization is supported by ongoing collaborations with SMEs and clinical stakeholders.
Dissemination
The PHAST consortium has ensured broad scientific and public outreach through conference presentations, journal publications, and media engagement. Key scientific dissemination included contributions to international events such as RINEM 2022, D-Photon 2023, SEIA 2024, ECBO, SPIE Photonics West, and ICORS 2024. Findings have been published in high-impact journals including Journal of Biomedical Optics and Scientific Reports.
Public outreach included participation in European Researchers' Night (2022, 2023), TEDx Torino (2023, 2024), and Biennale Tecnologia, making photonics research accessible to general audiences. Press and TV coverage in Germany, including Ostthüringer Zeitung and MDR Thüringen Journal, enhanced visibility beyond the scientific community.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

PHAST-ETN has advanced state-of-the-art solutions in fibre-optic biosensing, multimodal endoscopy, and functional tissue imaging. Developments include novel Fibre Bragg Grating (FBG) sensors with enhanced pressure sensitivity, hybrid optical devices for functional imaging, and biodegradable fibres for minimally invasive biomarker detection. These technologies substantially improve the accuracy, sensitivity, and versatility of optical diagnostics in clinical and pre-clinical settings.
By project completion, PHAST-ETN finalized prototype diagnostic devices, optimized fibre-based sensing methods, and trained researchers in cross-disciplinary innovation. Machine learning models were refined for clinical data interpretation, and large-scale validation is underway through ongoing clinical trials.
The project’s innovations hold transformative potential for early cancer detection, intraoperative imaging, and personalized treatment. By enhancing non-invasive and cost-effective diagnostic tools, PHAST-ETN contributes to improved patient outcomes and reduced healthcare expenditures. Furthermore, the project fosters job creation, industrial innovation, and public health impact through knowledge transfer, education, and sustained collaborations.

Endoscopic camera for surgery

Multimodal non-linear endomicroscopy system for tissue examination (squamous cell carcinoma) with m

Optical mammograph applied for neoadjuvant cancer therapy monitoring

Multimodal probe for head and neck cancer detection

Multimodal imaging of meningioma brain sample at 60µm depth