Lungcheck

Multiplex point-of-care device for lung disease biomarkers in sputum

LungCheck will develop an in-vitro point-of-care (POC) bioanalytical device based on sputum sampling and rapid multiplex biomarker analysis, for the early diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer in high-risk patients. The device will comprise: a) A sample collection, separation and pre-concentration approach that make use of magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) modified with primary antibodies to the selected biomarkers; b) A single-use, disposable microfluidic element fabricated on paper including separate microchannels, conjugate, reference and detection areas for each biomarker and c) A reusable array of electrochemical transducers for the simultaneous measurement of the biomarkers. LungCheck rationale is based on the integrated human immune response to infection and inflammation. The POC device will be validated for rapid electrochemical detection of infection in COPD and potentially lung cancer incidence based on the quantitative detection of specific inflammatory markers secreted by the human immune system in response to pathogenic microorganisms as well as lung tumour-related exosomes released by the cancer cells to induce immunetolerance.

 

Universidade do Minho (UM)
Gabriela Botelho, (CQUM)
Senentxu Lanceiros Mendez, (CFUM)
Vanessa Cardoso
Pedro Martins

Other partners:
Cesar Fernández-Sánchez-  Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)- Madrid – PI
Juan Torrent – Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
Silk Krol – Istituto Tumori “Giovanni Paolo II” (IRCCS)
Shai Rahimipour – Bar Ilan University (BIU)
Claire Lhuillier- Cellvax, SAS (CELL)