Periodic Reporting for period 4 - NextGenMicrofluidics (Next generation test bed for upscaling of microfluidic devices based on nano-enabled surfaces and membranes)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2024-04-01 do 2025-03-31
Microfluidics makes it possible to transport, control and analyse the smallest quantities of liquid in a limited area. This makes microfluidics a key technology for the development of so-called microfluidic lab-on-a-chip systems. One advantage of these lab-on-a-chip systems is that they allow the automated implementation of complex analyses even in small laboratories with limited technical equipment. The potential of these systems is enormous, especially in medicine, pharmaceuticals, production and analytics. However, crucial challenges hinder high-throughput production of microfluidic devices. Current production technologies (e.g. injection moulding) do not allow large volume upscaling of complex nano-patterned surfaces and the produced microfluidic components need to be handled in single pieces in all subsequent processes. Therefore, application of nano-coatings e.g. by dip coating, electrospinning, printing of nano-based inks and lamination demands for complex single peace handling operations. This restricts upscaling potential and process throughput. Recent research activities have demonstrated, that techniques of nano-patterning e.g. in roll format could solve these problems.
NextGenMicrofluidics (NGM) project accelerates the implementation of roll-to-roll technologies for the high-throughput production of microfluidic systems. It will then be possible to produce microfluidic components no longer as single pieces, but on large foils using stamping, printing and lamination processes. A result of NGM is to reach an unrivalled level in the production capacity of flexible lab-on-a-chip systems, so-called labs-on-a-foil
The overall aim of NGM project is the formation of a pan-European test bed, which provides access to existing facilities, capabilities and services and upgrades them to a platform for development, testing and upscaling of microfluidic products. This test bed is aimed to be the worldwide biggest platform for upscaling and testing of microfluidic devices covering all aspects from prototyping to industrial production. Especially testing in an industrial environment, validation of material characteristics and control of the respect of legal and regulatory constraints will be addressed.
The technology validation of the Open Innovation Test Bed (OITB) is established on pre-defined case studies from complementary markets, ranging from biosensor development through molecular diagnostics and smart phone-supported home diagnostics to pharmaceutical tests and sensors for monitoring bioprocesses and on funded innovation projects offered through an Open Call.
NGM project combines the competences of 22 partners spanning the whole range from 2 big industry players, 13 SMEs, 4 research institutes to 2 universities along the entire value chain or the development and production of customized microfluidic lab-on-a-foil systems. NGM consortium bundled their unique capabilities in a separate legal entity, the Microfluidics Innovation Hub (MIH). MIH offers its customers central access to the complete value chain for the development and manufacture of microfluidic systems with foil-based components. The offering helps accelerate the demonstration of exciting new scientific breakthroughs towards a working prototype, and beyond into mass manufacturing. In parallel with technical development, MIH can provide its customers easier access to venture capital.
NextGenMicrofluidics (NGM) project accelerates the implementation of roll-to-roll technologies for the high-throughput production of microfluidic systems. It will then be possible to produce microfluidic components no longer as single pieces, but on large foils using stamping, printing and lamination processes. A result of NGM is to reach an unrivalled level in the production capacity of flexible lab-on-a-chip systems, so-called labs-on-a-foil
The overall aim of NGM project is the formation of a pan-European test bed, which provides access to existing facilities, capabilities and services and upgrades them to a platform for development, testing and upscaling of microfluidic products. This test bed is aimed to be the worldwide biggest platform for upscaling and testing of microfluidic devices covering all aspects from prototyping to industrial production. Especially testing in an industrial environment, validation of material characteristics and control of the respect of legal and regulatory constraints will be addressed.
The technology validation of the Open Innovation Test Bed (OITB) is established on pre-defined case studies from complementary markets, ranging from biosensor development through molecular diagnostics and smart phone-supported home diagnostics to pharmaceutical tests and sensors for monitoring bioprocesses and on funded innovation projects offered through an Open Call.
NGM project combines the competences of 22 partners spanning the whole range from 2 big industry players, 13 SMEs, 4 research institutes to 2 universities along the entire value chain or the development and production of customized microfluidic lab-on-a-foil systems. NGM consortium bundled their unique capabilities in a separate legal entity, the Microfluidics Innovation Hub (MIH). MIH offers its customers central access to the complete value chain for the development and manufacture of microfluidic systems with foil-based components. The offering helps accelerate the demonstration of exciting new scientific breakthroughs towards a working prototype, and beyond into mass manufacturing. In parallel with technical development, MIH can provide its customers easier access to venture capital.
During the final reporting period, the NGM consortium focused on delivery of open call services, promotion of the MIH, and dissemination of final results from the project.
This task was intensified by the single entry point Microfluidics Innovation Hub (MIH) and was assisted by all partners, in social media campaigns, representation of the MIH at booths on conferences and exhibitions and others.
This allowed us to implement 18 Open Call projects, with a total project costs of €1.824.493 € and EU funding of €1.426.397 . The customers contributed in form of Cash Contributions, which amounted around 375.000 € in total. As far as we know, this quantity of Open Call projects and as well as this amount of customer cash contribution has not been reached by any other OITB so far during project run time. The prolongation of the project until March 2025 allowed us to operate the 18 projects and exploit 95% of the allotted Open Call budget.
In the final reporting period, we placed a great emphasis on dissemination and communication activities of both project results and Open Call success stories among academic researchers, industry and the general public. In addition to new scientific publications and many talks at scientific conferences, we published interviews in magazines, hosted a series of dissemination webinars, and most notably, organized a final microfluidics conference as a satellite event of Health Tech Hub Styria. This event gave us a platform for 12 talks, hands-on demonstrations and booths from our project partners, Open Call awardees and others in the microfluidics community.
This task was intensified by the single entry point Microfluidics Innovation Hub (MIH) and was assisted by all partners, in social media campaigns, representation of the MIH at booths on conferences and exhibitions and others.
This allowed us to implement 18 Open Call projects, with a total project costs of €1.824.493 € and EU funding of €1.426.397 . The customers contributed in form of Cash Contributions, which amounted around 375.000 € in total. As far as we know, this quantity of Open Call projects and as well as this amount of customer cash contribution has not been reached by any other OITB so far during project run time. The prolongation of the project until March 2025 allowed us to operate the 18 projects and exploit 95% of the allotted Open Call budget.
In the final reporting period, we placed a great emphasis on dissemination and communication activities of both project results and Open Call success stories among academic researchers, industry and the general public. In addition to new scientific publications and many talks at scientific conferences, we published interviews in magazines, hosted a series of dissemination webinars, and most notably, organized a final microfluidics conference as a satellite event of Health Tech Hub Styria. This event gave us a platform for 12 talks, hands-on demonstrations and booths from our project partners, Open Call awardees and others in the microfluidics community.
The following progress beyond the state of the art was achieved:
• Implementation of manufacturing steps for foil based microfluidic chips including imprinting, microarray spotting and lamination.
• First all-in-one microfluidic cartridge comprising all liquid pumping, liquid handling and detection units from roll-to-roll processing (e.g. with optical effects).
• First implementation of a diagnostic chip for COVID-19 serology test from full roll-to-roll based processing.
• First implementation of a sensor combining microfluidics, ion-selective sensing and smart-phone based power supply as well as data read-out. The consortium will aim on an early IP protection strategy covering new findings of the R&D process.
• First multilayer enzymatic sensors based on foil based imprinted components. The technology of foilbased microfluidics is comparably new.
Potential impact
NGM works on a first time realisation of foil based microfluidics processing in combination with glass and silicon based wafer processing as well as injection moulding. The process line will be upgraded and connected with several processes enabling integration of microfluidic components, like electrospinning of nano-fiber networks, lamination onto thermoplastic polymer foil based microfluidics, inkjet and screen-printing of nano-based inks. In addition, the pilot facilities will be upgraded with additional in-line metrology equipment. With this upgrade, the consortium will run a unique platform addressing the vast majority of microfluidics applications (microfluidics from other materials than polymers, glass or silicon share just around 10% of world-wide market).
• Implementation of manufacturing steps for foil based microfluidic chips including imprinting, microarray spotting and lamination.
• First all-in-one microfluidic cartridge comprising all liquid pumping, liquid handling and detection units from roll-to-roll processing (e.g. with optical effects).
• First implementation of a diagnostic chip for COVID-19 serology test from full roll-to-roll based processing.
• First implementation of a sensor combining microfluidics, ion-selective sensing and smart-phone based power supply as well as data read-out. The consortium will aim on an early IP protection strategy covering new findings of the R&D process.
• First multilayer enzymatic sensors based on foil based imprinted components. The technology of foilbased microfluidics is comparably new.
Potential impact
NGM works on a first time realisation of foil based microfluidics processing in combination with glass and silicon based wafer processing as well as injection moulding. The process line will be upgraded and connected with several processes enabling integration of microfluidic components, like electrospinning of nano-fiber networks, lamination onto thermoplastic polymer foil based microfluidics, inkjet and screen-printing of nano-based inks. In addition, the pilot facilities will be upgraded with additional in-line metrology equipment. With this upgrade, the consortium will run a unique platform addressing the vast majority of microfluidics applications (microfluidics from other materials than polymers, glass or silicon share just around 10% of world-wide market).