Identification number: 1.1.1.3/1/24/A/052
Type: European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
Duration: 01.06.2025 - 31.05.2028.
Project Leader: Dr. Maira Elksne, Institute of Solid State Physics University of Latvia (ISSP UL)
Responsible person from ISSP UL: Dr. Maira Elksne
Project partners: SIA CellboxLab
Total funding: 677 328 EUR
ERDF funding: 510 000 EUR
ISSP UL funding: 443 088 EUR
Project description:
The aim of this project is to develop a novel real-time electrochemical sensor technology for monitoring glucose and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels in "organ-on-a-chip" (OoC) systems, thereby significantly improving the currently labor-intensive process of cell viability monitoring. The proposed sensor devices will also address the limitations of traditional ATP and glucose measurement methods in flow-through systems, which rely on single-use or end-point measurements and may therefore fail to capture important time-dependent changes in cell behavior and metabolic activity.
The main outcome of the project will be an electrochemical sensor for continuous monitoring of ATP and glucose. Initially, its performance will be evaluated under laboratory conditions, after which the sensor will be tested by integrating it into a breast cancer-on-a-chip model. This project is expected to support the development of an improved breast cancer-on-a-chip model, which will in turn facilitate cancer drug testing in microfluidic systems and aid in the creation of personalized treatment plans for cancer patients. Currently, this technology is at TRL2, and it is expected to reach TRL4 by the end of the project.
This project aligns with the RIS3 priority area "Smart materials, technologies, and engineering systems" and is also related to two additional domains: "Biomedicine, medical technologies, biopharmaceuticals, and biotechnologies" and "Research and experimental development in biotechnology," in accordance with the NACE M72.11 classification. The project falls under the category of industrial research and is not related to economic activity.
This is an interdisciplinary study that involves the fields of biological sciences (1.6), physical sciences (1.3), computer and information sciences (1.2), materials engineering (2.5), medical engineering (2.6), and nanotechnology (2.10), as defined by the OECD classification.
The project duration is 36 months, starting from June 1, 2025. The total eligible funding for the project is EUR 677,328, including EUR 510,000 from the ERDF (European Regional Development Fund).