The four development priorities of the MikroNano³ network – integrated micro-nanofluidics, high-resolution analytics and sensing, micro- and nanoscopy, and tools & systems – give rise to a broad spectrum of forward-looking applications.
Point-of-care diagnostics
Point-of-care diagnostics takes centre stage: chip-based multi-modal platforms combining impedance spectroscopy, SERS and digital holography will be able to detect numerous biomarkers in parallel within minutes – close to the patient, cost-effectively and without a central laboratory. This brings personalised medicine within reach, from early detection of skin tumours to single-cell phenotyping in cancer research.
Pharmaceutical research
In pharmaceutical research, droplet-based microfluidic screening systems with femtolitre precision enable high-throughput drug testing on individual cells. Magnetically controlled cell separation and microrobots for targeted drug release open up new avenues in therapy and laboratory diagnostics – up to targeted drug delivery directly within blood vessels.
Beyond medicine
Beyond medicine, further prospects emerge: autonomous, ultra-portable systems for environmental monitoring of nanoparticles and pollutants, real-time quality control in the food industry, and AI-assisted nanoscopy for materials research and the semiconductor industry.
The convergence of fluidics, analytics and microscopy makes high-precision measurement portable, fast and affordable – laying the foundation for a new generation of European analytical systems