The goal of the project “PolyChrome Berlin” is to establish a cost-effective and compact hybrid photonic integration platform to be used for a wide range of analytical applications. The core technology of this platform are silicon nitride-based optical waveguides (400 nm – 1650 nm) realized on silicon nitride/silicon dioxide chips. Those sensors will be designed and produced by Fraunhofer HHI. This technology enables a label-free detection of binding events: when target molecules from provided sample bind to the capture molecules immobilized on the surface of the optical waveguides, the optical resonance frequency of the waveguides shifts. This shift can be measured dynamically while introducing the sample of interest to the sensor. This technology enables fast and precise quantitative measurements with low-volume samples at low costs.

To cause a binding event of interest, the optical waveguides should be biofunctionalized with specific capture molecules. The goal of Scienion GmbH in the “PolyChrome Berlin” project is to establish scalable methods for sensors biofunctionalization with different aptamers for up to six different applications. First, the sensors will be functionalized with a silane to “activate” the surface. In the next step, the optical waveguides will be loaded with aptamers precisely by utilizing the sciDROP PICO technology. For this process, only small amount of tailor-made aptamers (provided by Fraunhofer IZI-BB) is needed what makes the whole process cost-efficient.

A consortium of 12 partners, coordinated by the micro resist technology GmbH, started the joint project “PolyChrome Berlin – Photonic Integration Platform for Sensor-based Analytical Applications in a Wide Wavelength Range” under the call for proposals “RUBIN – Regional Entrepreneurial Alliances for Innovation” by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

The 12 partners in the PolyChome RUBIN alliance cover all core competencies needed for the development and commercial exploitation of the new biosensor technology platform.

Find out more: PolyChrome Berlin

Funding: German Federal Ministry of Education and Research

Duration: September 2021 – August 2025

Partners:

• ADVA Optical Networking SE, Berlin
• Allresist GmbH, Strausberg
• Chembio Diagnostics GmbH, Berlin
• eagleyard Photonics GmbH, Berlin
• Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute, Berlin
• Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Potsdam-Golm
• ficontec, Achim
• Laser Center Hannover e.V., Hannover
• micro resist technology GmbH, Berlin
• OSRAM, Regensburg
• VPIphotonics GmbH, Berlin
• SCIENION GmbH, Berlin

Currently, there are about 30,000 new cases of bladder cancer every year in Germany. Although 75 % of bladder cancers are superficial and easily treatable by operation, there is a high risk of recurrence. 10-20 % of these recurrence patients experience a progression to muscle-invasive bladder carcinoma which predisposes them to metastasis and a significantly reduced survival rate. Due to the high risk of recurrence, patients are subject to close follow-up care. According to international guidance, cystoscopy is the gold standard for the diagnostic of bladder cancer but as invasive method it is perceived as very unpleasant and expensive. In addition, low sensitivity of 30 % doesn´t ensure the differentiation between cancer and inflammation.

In this context, the SCIENION GmbH, together with the Institute for prevention and occupational medicine (IPA), develops a non-invasive lateral flow immunoassay, called UROfast, for the rapid and sensitive diagnostic of bladder cancer to improve patients’ survival probability with simultaneous increase in quality of life. The combination of up to 10 biomarkers ensure the early detection as well as the identification of high-grade and muscle-invasive urothelial carcinomas without any inconveniences for the patients. For this purpose, SCIENION’s unique sciDROP technology for automated precision dispensing was used for the development of the multiplexed biomarker assay that provides an all-in-one measurement within 10-20 min in a lateral flow reader through a kinetic measurement algorithm. As the whole development process accords to the IVDR, the UROfast tests will be suitable for laboratory use as well as for decentralized use in medical practices.

Funding: central innovation program for SMEs (ZIM)

Duration: 01.03.2021 till 29.02.2024

Involved Partners:

• IPA (Institute for prevention and occupational medicine)/ Ruhr-Universität Bochum
• SCIENION GmbH