The Cofund project

Microfluidics and plasmonics join efforts on the hunt for a platform that can help oncologists in cancer prognosis. The COFUND project led by Dr Sara Abalde-Cela in collaboration with Dr Lorena Diéguez relays on nanotechnology and microfluidics to develop a real-time, high-throughput and multiplex cancer-sensing platform. A major advance recently achieved by INL researchers is a microfluidic platform able to isolate the very rare cancer cells present in the blood of metastatic patients, the so-called circulating tumour cells (CTCs). These CTCs are a snapshot of the current cancer status of each patient, that hold predictive and prognostic value. However, after isolation of CTCs, many challenges remain ahead to fully unravel cancer behaviour and evolution. In order to extract as many information as possible from those cells, very advanced interrogating techniques need to be applied. In this context, Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy arises as the ideal analytical technique due to its inherent sensitivity, specificity, multiplexing and quantification abilities. Thus, SERS plus microfluidics is a powerful combination able to overcome the current bottlenecks faced by researchers within the liquid biopsy field.

Several lines of research are being pursued by researchers involved within this project including: the synthesis of codified gold nanostars for the indirect analysis of extra and intra-cellular biomarkers; the encapsulation of the isolated CTCs in microdroplets acting as microreactors for single-cell analysis and metabolite single-cell tracking; and single-cell evolution for predicting tumour growth. Even though this project has been running at INL for less than a year, the proof-of-concept with cell lines has already started, and optimisation of plasmonic nanoparticles has been completed at this stage. Results and project concept have been spread to the community at several conferences and scientific events in Portugal, Spain, UK, Japan and Sweden. The feedback from the scientific community has been very positive so far, including some conference awards. Our preliminary results, the support from INL and research community, together with the hope that we can contribute to the cancer fight, encourage us to give our best to this challenging, but exciting project.

The mission of the CANCER structured Program is to create a platform of integrated competences that promotes translation of basic research to clinical application in the area of oncology. The strategy for development of this program relies on building a conceptual scientific and technologic platform, where integration between basic and applied research is fostered. The CANCER Program will also rely on our well-established collaborations with the pharmaceutical and in vitro diagnostics industry to boost the likelihood of creating economic value, hence complying with the smart specialization RIS3 strategy for Norte Portugal. Numerous researchers from four institutions Ipatimup/i3S, IBMC/i3S, INL and CINTESIS under the co-ordination of Ipatimup/i3S, are involved in this program with five research lines in co-promotion:
1- Novel therapeutic targets and models for cancer;
2- Dynamics of intra-tumor heterogeneity;
3- Determinants of cell invasion and metastization in cancer;
4- Innovative biomarkers for cancer diagnosis, prognosis and therapy optimization;
5- Microsystem platforms for early cancer diagnosis & disease progression monitoring.

Several lines of research are being pursued by researchers involved within this project including: the synthesis of codified gold nanostars for the indirect analysis of extra and intra-cellular biomarkers; the encapsulation of the isolated CTCs in microdroplets acting as microreactors for single-cell analysis and metabolite single-cell tracking; and single-cell evolution for predicting tumour growth. Even though this project has been running at INL for less than a year, the proof-of-concept with cell lines has already started, and optimisation of plasmonic nanoparticles has been completed at this stage. Results and project concept have been spread to the community at several conferences and scientific events in Portugal, Spain, UK, Japan and Sweden. The feedback from the scientific community has been very positive so far, including some conference awards. Our preliminary results, the support from INL and research community, together with the hope that we can contribute to the cancer fight, encourage us to give our best to this challenging, but exciting project.

The main of objective of FROnTHERA is to boost the progress of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine fields with main focus on cancer, diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases. To accomplish this, the merge of 3D tissue engineered in vitro models of diseases, microfluidics, nanotechnologies, molecular biology and embedded biosensors will be pursued in order to obtain new tools and technologies to be used as alternative to animal experimentation, as well as, personalized therapies for Human health. Ultimately, the strengthening of these interdisciplinary domains will allow the improvement of theranostics of RIS3 diseases. This project is an initiative of three top leading research units, located in the PT 11 region, and gathers experts in tissue engineering in vitro models, neurosciences and emergent technologies based on responsive biosensors, whose main goal is to dvance in research for developing tools and technologies to be used as alternative to animal experimentation and in personalised therapies for human health.

The project will focus on the study of AFM cantilver bending upon excitation with fluorescence light; generating recommendations for designing optimal AFM cantilevers for combined fluorescence – AFM microscopy, and determining heating induced by AFM cantilevers excited by excitation light. The project aims to develop a system combining Structured Illumination Microscopy with Atomic Force Microscopy and apply it to cellular biology questions.

The main goal of the SAM Project is to develop new technology that combines Atomic Force Microscopy in liquid and superresolution fluorescence microscopy and enable simultaneous data acquisition. This new technology will be applied to the investigation of cellular nutrient and metal transporters.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common form of acute leukemia in adults that, although having favourable outcomes for younger patients upon receiving treatment, has a very poor prognosis in the elderly. After treatment with chemotheraphy, even patients that clinically achieve Complete Remission (CR) can relapse through the persistence of Minimal Residual Disease (MRD), having fatal consequences. The low sensitivity of current diagnostic technologies based on flow cytometry and bone marrow biopsy often prevents early detection of MRD, while being highly invasive and costly. Accurate and early diagnosis of MRD would allow the application of appropriate theraphy, improving dramatically the prognosis of the patients. Thus, the scope of this project is to discover new biomarkers of AML through Next Generation Sequencing, and to design, fabricate, test and optimize new Lab-on-a-chip systems based on Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering and microfluidics for early detection of MRD in AML.

Main Goal:

The project aims at developing an innovative in vitro diagnostic system based on Key Enabling Technologies for early detection of Minimal Residual Disease in Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

The major goals set for the integrated project cover an increase of our human resources in strategic areas by hiring 15 new researchers for the 2 research lines, a strengthening of our core activities in various project areas (sensing, system integration etc.) as well as the opening of new scientific topics (thermal energy harvesting, label free optical/graphene biosensors, etc.), and re-enforcing partnerships and collaborations with major national/regional industrial actors (electronics, health, food and environment, materials ).

Line 1-Nanotechnology based autonomous sensing systems – (energy harvesting and storage, sensors, new materials and concepts, systems integration towards IOT)

Line 2-Nanotechnology enabled solutions for water, food, and health challenges – (Water monitoring and treatment, food quality and safety, food processing and subproduct valorization, nano in diagnostics, nano in therapeutics)

The program will provide nanotechnology-based solutions for 2 areas: autonomous sensing systems (targeting Internet-of-Things integration) and monitoring and treatment platforms for applications related to water, food, and health. Each challenge is the focus of a research line, while the program integrates both lines at several levels via shared and reciprocal goals, new technology platforms and (nano)materials, and characterization methods.