Merging Nanotechnologies and Testing in Vitro

	A full wafer nanostenclil for high-throughput resistless patterning on various surfaces

The aim of this SRPA is to facilitate the exploitation of emerging nano-biotechnologies by the in vitro testing community. The intention is to guide the development and integration of nanotechnologies to specifically address the requirements of ADME-Tox (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion, and Toxicity) testing in vitro. This will be achieved within Nano2Life by working closely with relevant SPRT groups in the definition and execution of focused research and demonstration projects.

 

This SPRA addresses the needs of the pharmaceutical and industrial-chemicals industries in two areas: in the discovery and development of new products and in the testing of these products for regulatory acceptance. Some obstacles hinder the exploitation of nanotechnologies, e.g. the discovery-development business depends on screening technology, and is at the same time already committed to certain formats. Also, the regulatory toxicology business is restrictive and therefore slow in the uptake of new technologies. To overcome these obstacles this group intends to highlight how nanotechnologies can really deliver in terms of minimal test volumes, multi-parametric measurements, high throughput, and of course, cost effectiveness.

"Cytotoxicity on a Chip"

The intersection project "Cytotoxicity on a chip" addresses the challenges associated with the conception and design of an integrated device (loosely termed "chip") to carry out cytotoxicity assays based on mammalian cells. It will focus on assays that determine the cytotoxicity of chemicals, that when combined with biokinetic (ADME) data, can be used in the prediction of acute toxicity.

 

Collaborations are planed with "In vitro cell and tissue analysis" (leader Martin Bennink), "DNA, Protein and Cell chips" (leader Paul Galvin) and "Surface functionalisation" (leader Pascal Colpo).

 

Examples of scientific challenges to be considered are as follows:

• Rapid, sensitive, non-invasive methods for detection of basal cytotoxicity
• Integrated systems for maintaining cell and tissue models from 1 to 90 days
• Improved techniques for quantitative morphological analysis of cells and tissue
• Sensitive, specific, non-invasive detection techniques for intracellular targets
• Multi-modal integrated biosensing for on-line monitoring of multiple parameters