Projektbeschreibung
Ein innovativer Biosensor zur Messung von Toxizität an Herz und Nervensystem
Viele Wirkstoffe, Pestizide und chemische Schadstoffe verursachen Neuro- und Kardiotoxizität. Doch bisher gibt es keine Assays zur genauen und sensitiven Messung der Toxizität am Herzen und im zentralen Nervensystem. Daher will das EU-finanzierte Projekt TOX-Free eine nicht invasive Technik auf Basis von Nanotechnologie entwickeln, die in vitro elektrische Signale aus Nerven- und Herzzellen des Menschen aufzeichnen kann. Die Biosensortechnologie von TOX-Free wird Bewertung und Quantifizierung von subtilen zellulären und funktionellen Störungen durch Gift- oder Wirkstoffe ermöglichen. Zum Einsatz kommen kann der Biosensor in Toxikologie und Pharmakologie sowie in der Grundlagenforschung der Biologie.
Ziel
Pre- and post-marketing data on drug side effects show that neurotoxicity and cardiotoxicity are frequently missed or underestimated during pre-clinical testing. Neuro- and cardiotoxicity caused by pollutants including pesticides and industrial chemicals are equally difficult to assess. This results in suffering of individuals and in a considerable burden to society. One of the main reasons is that currently available testing approaches have several shortcomings, including sensitivity, human-relevance and suitability for non-invasive long-term recording.
This project will develop a revolutionary and fully non-invasive technology to record in-vitro electrical signals from human neuronal and cardiac cells. High spatial resolution, combined with parallel recording of electrical signal coordination and propagation among thousands of neurons or cardiomyocytes, will allow the assessment and quantification of subtle disturbances by toxicants from the drug, pesticides and industrial chemicals sectors. The full non-invasiveness will enable, for the first time, the long-term functional in-vitro monitoring of biologically relevant cellular models, paving the way toward the reliable assessment of chronic toxicities.
The novel biosensing technique (VICE) will emerge from the efforts of nanotechnology developers in close collaboration with toxicologists and specialists in surface functionalization and electrophysiological data acquisition. With its joint expertise, the consortium will continuously refine the VICE biosensor with innovative functionalities while thoroughly testing it in toxicology and pharmacologicy experiments. This will not only lead to a revolutionary approach to monitor functions of heart and brain cells, but also ensure the direct applicability to relevant questions in safety sciences and pharmacology. Ultimately, the project will elicit the future development of a whole new class of biosensors based on the groundbreaking concept of VICE.
Wissenschaftliches Gebiet
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensorsbiosensors
- engineering and technologyenvironmental biotechnologybiosensing
- engineering and technologynanotechnology
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicinetoxicology
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacy
Schlüsselbegriffe
Programm/Programme
Aufforderung zur Vorschlagseinreichung
Andere Projekte für diesen Aufruf anzeigenUnterauftrag
H2020-FETOPEN-2018-2019-2020-01
Finanzierungsplan
RIA - Research and Innovation actionKoordinator
16163 Genova
Italien