A consortium led by UT-spin off ECsens will develop a new test to simultaneously detect multiple short-term infections of the nose and throat, such as the coronavirus. “Together with the University of Twente, Johannes Kepler University Linz, CNRS Tokyo and Twente-based companies LabMicTA and InterFluidics, we will combine our virus sensor with a molecule sensor to create a complete system that also communicates the data to all authorized caregivers directly”, says the ECsens CTO and project coordinator Pepijn Beekman.
The new tests will prepare us for any future pandemics. However, there are more advantages of having just one test to detect multiple infections, not just during a pandemic. Inexpensive testing could revolutionize healthcare. This would not only help people to stay healthy but also ease the strain on health insurance providers. George Gramse, one of the involved researchers from the Johannes Kepler University Linz, spoke about the objective and stated: "It will be a lot of work; it should be simple, like an antigen test, but as accurate as a PCR test, as well as faster and cheaper."
Predicting disease progression
“The previous system from ECsens detects viruses and bacteria. This is already useful to test whether you have been infected. With this new feature, we also gain information about your body’s response to the pathogens”, says Beekman, “Take COVID-19, when infected, some people release a lot of small proteins called cytokines in their body, while others release very few. These proteins signal your immune system to do its job, but more cytokines also mean a more severe response. The new sensor can help predict how sick someone will get and what therapy to apply.”
Wide range
With this grant, the consortium will make a sensor that can detect a wide range of relevant biomarkers simultaneously, such as proteins, enzymes, (big) molecules, vesicles, viruses and bacteria with ultra-high sensitivity. Testing for several of these biomarkers at the same time gives healthcare workers more information than more specific tests. Which is needed to give the right treatment and necessary precautionary care for patients with high risk.
About the project
The new tests are part of a new, international EU project called Universal Electrochemical Nanosensors for Next-generation Diagnostics (UNICORN Dx), in the "ATTRACT Phase 2" research programme. The consortium is led by UT-spin off ECsens and further consists of the University of Twente, Johannes Kepler University Linz, CNRS Tokyo, LabMicTA (Hengelo) and InterFluidics (Enschede). With funding in the amount of € 2 million, the goal is to develop an innovative sensor platform. The University of Twente will appoint two postdocs (vacancy Postdoc Microfabricated electrochemical biosensors & Postdoc Microfluidic Cartridges). Involved UT-researchers are prof. dr. Serge Lemay (BioElectronics; Faculty of S&T) and prof. dr. Séverine Le Gac (Applied Microfluidics for BioEngineering Research; Faculty of EEMCS).
