BIOLAN HEATLH is a young technological SME focused on the development of novel biosensors for healthcare (Point of Care-PoC devices), addressing priority needs in healthcare diagnostics and/or therapies monitoring for the benefit of patients, providing affordable systems with unique features that meet specific well identified requirements in healthcare. BIOLAN HEALTH has recently identified a healthcare need in relation with prevention, treatment and monitoring of Vitamin D (VitD) deficiency. VitD (1,25-DihydroxyvitaminD) is considered a multipurpose steroid hormone that in human plays an essential role in multiple aspects, being its primary role to participate in the regulation of metabolism of calcium and phosphorous. VitD deficiency is evident throughout the European population at a prevalence of 13% (FP7-613977-ODIN project), a rate that is a matter of concern. People over 50 have an increased risk of vitamin D deficiency with consequent bone loss risk leading to osteoporosis and fractures. Emerging evidence has shown that VitD administration improves muscle performance and reduces falls in VitD deficient older adults. Other populations of higher risk for VitD deficiency are children, pregnant and lactating women and patients with digestive disorders, among others. VitD deficiency is also associated with increased risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, infections, and autoimmune diseases. In this context, BIOLAN HEALTH has identified the opportunity to develop a novel PoC device for the quantification of VitD in blood based on lateral flow immunoassay (LFI), combined with electrochemical detection on screen printed electrodes (SPEs). As result of OSAVIT-D project, BIOLAN HEALTH has incorporated an expert in LFI that lead the development of a first prototype of a LFI device with electrochemical detection and has established the roadmap for transforming the novel idea into an innovation project.
