Continuous two-dimensional Stretch monitoring of fresh tissue Biopsies

Objective

Mechanical tension and stresses are considered key factors associated to the control of the growth and proliferation of tumoral cells and tissues. Monitoring of such stresses would help to better understand cancer progression and also to test the effectiveness of anticancer drugs aiming to restore normal tissue mechanics. However, there is no current system available for monitoring the cellular mechanical properties, particularly for small tissue biopsies like those obtained with core needles.
The overall goal of the StretchBio project is the design, development, fabrication and proof of application of an advanced label-free and compact nanosystem for the continuous monitoring and quantification of mechanical stresses in ex vivo fresh tissue biopsies. This nanodevice will allow testing the changes of these tissues upon their treatment with anticancer drugs for improved drug screening. The basic principle of StretchBio is a two-dimensional force sensor based on an array of nanopillars, constituting a photonic crystal, in which the bending of one or more nanopillars, caused by the mechanical forces exerted by the living tissue, will give rise to a change in the transmitted light through the photonic crystal. The design and fabrication of this compact nanosystem needs to be addressed in concomitance with liquid cell culture media, which will constitute the interpillar medium, and with the fact that the ex vivo fresh biopsy needs to be placed on top of the nanopillars.
The proposed approach will be an enormous leap in the study of tissue growth and of drug screening in solid tumours whose progression is markedly contributed by tissue stiffening. This represents an innovative approach to personalized medicine, allowing the development of ad-hoc treatments.

Fields of science

• medical and health sciences › medical biotechnology › nanomedicine
• engineering and technology › electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering › electronic engineering › sensors
• natural sciences › biological sciences › biological morphology › functional morphology

Programme(s)

• H2020-EU.1.2. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Future and Emerging Technologies (FET)
• H2020-EU.1.2.1. - FET Open

Topic(s)

• FETOPEN-01-2018-2019-2020 - FET-Open Challenging Current Thinking

Call for proposal

H2020-FETOPEN-2018-2019-2020-01
See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

RIA - Research and Innovation action

Coordinator

UNIVERSITAT DE BARCELONA

Address

Gran Via De Les Corts Catalanes 585
08007 Barcelona
Spain

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

EU contribution

€ 1 418 750

Participants (4)

DANMARKS TEKNISKE UNIVERSITET

Denmark

EU contribution

€ 1 111 421,25

Address

Anker Engelundsvej 1 Bygning 101 A
2800 Kgs Lyngby

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

ALBERT-LUDWIGS-UNIVERSITAET FREIBURG

Germany

EU contribution

€ 716 687,50

Address

Fahnenbergplatz
79098 Freiburg

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

ACONDICIONAMIENTO TARRASENSE ASSOCIACION

Spain

EU contribution

€ 275 037,50

Address

Carrer De La Innovacio 2
08225 Terrassa

Activity type

Research Organisations

READYCELL SL

Spain

EU contribution

€ 300 798,75

Address

Calle Pallars 179-185
08005 Barcelona

Activity type

Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)