LAB-ON-A-CHIP

A complete laboratory, no bigger than a pill. ‘Lab-on-a-Chip’ nanotechnology makes this possible. In future, a patient will simply swallow the mini-lab which will monitor the levels of various substances in the body and transmit the results directly to the doctor. Researchers from BIOS, the Lab-on-a-Chip department within the MESA+ research institute, are developing this revolutionary form of nanotechnology. It represents a huge scientific advance, for which Professor Albert van den Berg was awarded the Spinoza Prize, the Netherlands’ most prestigious scientific award, in 2009.

Twente researchers are now working on various applications for the Lab-on-a-Chip. To date, they have produced a fertility test for men and a chip which helps patients with manic depression to manage their own medication. Another ongoing project focuses on a 'nanopill' which can detect bowel cancer.

Topical themes

	The Do-It-Yourself sperm count A small device which measures the sperm cells with electrical current may provide a do-it-yourself fertility test for men. Rather than attending a clinic and providing a sample which is then sent to the lab for testing, a man will be able to find out whether he is fertile in the comfort of his own home. ... read more
	Lithium chip for patients with bipolar disorder Some 300,000 people in the Netherlands suffer from some form of manic depression, or ‘bipolar disorder’. Around ten per cent are prescribed medication which can be extremely toxic if too much is taken. ... read more
	Nanopill detects cancer You swallow a pill which duly finds its way into the gastrointestinal tract. And that is where it goes to work. Microscopic wires in the pill can detect DNA fragments from cancer cells long before any tumour becomes visible. ... read more