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The study demonstrated the success of an optofluidic-based Point-of-Care (PoC) diagnostic system for the analysis of protein-protein interactions.

Today SCIENION, a BICO company and leading developer of miniaturized multiplex diagnostic tests, announced the completion of the diagnostic research project PoC-BoSens led by the Fraunhofer Institute for Reliability and Microintegration (IZM). The PoC-BoSens platform is a revolutionary label-free Point-of-Care device based on three-dimensional photonic bottle resonators (3D-BMRs) for real-time high-sensitive measurement of disease-relevant biomolecules. The platform leveraged the use of an automated read-out device to analyze the results of up to 4 cytokine reactions in an optofluidic cartridge.

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the vital need for fast, affordable, and scalable infectious disease diagnostics. In the case of both novel diseases and ones that we’ve been battling for decades, a lack of effective monitoring leads to millions of preventable deaths each year. Photonic sensing platforms are revolutionizing point-of-care diagnostic methods by enabling high sensitivity, high compactness, and multiplexing capabilities for the fast and reliable detection of infectious and autoimmune diseases.

The project began in 2018 and was funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. The study brought together several academic and industry partners across photonics, microfluidics, electronics, biochemistry and assay development. SCIENION was selected to participate based on its expertise in the development of miniaturized multiplex assays. The 3D-BMRs were coated with the capture probes using SCIENION’s proprietary surface functionalization and sciFLEXARRAYER dispensing technology, and then integrated into an optofluidic biochip cartridge in the medical device.

The study successfully demonstrated the integration of the technological components into a tabletop system. The readout unit comprises of fully automatic control systems for fluidics and measurement process followed by automatic data analysis. The optofluidic biochip was evaluated in a two-step approach. The specific biorecognition of cytokine IL-2 utilizing 3D-BMRs in the microfluidic cartridge was stable and consistently achieved a limit of detection below 1 ng/mL. The assembled optical sensor reached Q factors between 104 and 105, leading to a sensitivity in the ng/mL level.

Next steps towards commercialization of the platform include manufacturing and upscaling of the test cartridge and readout unit, clinical verification, and validation for CE marking. To learn more about the study, please visit: www.poc-bosens.researchproject.at

For companies interested in leveraging SCIENION’s assay development expertise or sciFLEXARRAYER dispensing technology, please contact support@scienion.com.

This information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact persons set out above,
on March 2, 2022 at 14:00 (CET).

About SCIENION

Founded in 2001, SCIENION is a renowned specialist in ultra-low volume precision liquid handling in the pico-liter to micro-liter range, enabling applications from research to high-throughput production of assays in diagnostics and life sciences. Addressing the dynamically increasing needs for miniaturization and multiplex analyses, SCIENION is a complete solution provider offering a unique portfolio of automated precision dispensing systems, readers, consumables, assay development and contract manufacturing services. The company operates from two sites in Germany, Dortmund and Berlin, and has subsidiaries in Arizona, USA; Chichester, UK; and Cellenion in Lyon, France.

SCIENION is part of BICO, the leading bio convergence company in the world that provides technologies, products and services to create the future of health.

About BICO

Founded in 2016, BICO (formerly CELLINK) is the leading bio convergence company in the world. By combining different technologies, such as robotics, artificial intelligence, computer science, and 3D bioprinting with biology, we enable our customers to improve people’s health and lives for the better.

The company has a focus on developing technologies that will advance Health 4.0 Next Generation Core Industry Ecosystems that enable tissue engineering, diagnostics, multiomics, and cell line development. BICO’s technologies enable researchers in the life sciences to culture cells in 3D, perform high-throughput drug screening and print human tissues and organs for the medical, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. We create the future of health.

The Group’s instruments in the field amounts to 25,000, including all the top 20 pharmaceutical companies, are being used in more than 65 countries, and have been cited in more than 9,500 publications. BICO is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm under BICO. www.bico.com

About the Project Consortium

A highly qualified multidisciplinary consortium was part of the project to achieve the goal. The involved partners from four different countries are from academia and industry: Fraunhofer IZM (GER), Austrian Institute of Technology (AUT), Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna (IT), MDX Devices GmbH (GER), IFU Diagnostic Systems GmbH (GER), Diarect GmbH (GER), Scienion GmbH (GER), Syel srl (IT) and Unitive Design & Analysis Ltd (UK).