» 2015 - 2018 :: Development and improvement of advanced MANUfacturing technologies for MicroElectro Mechanical Systems in biomedical applications - MANUMEMS (ERA-NET MANUNET, IDEPA IDE/2015/000454)

• 30-12-2015

MicruX, leading company in Lab-on-a-Chip (LOC) platforms based on microfluidic and electrochemical systems, coordinates a transnational project, codename MANUMEMS, initiated through the collaborative network ERA.NET MANUNET. The project is focused on the optimization and automation of the manufacturing process of smart BioMEMS devices for HIV diagnosis.

Biomedical market is demanding the development of novel bioanalytical tools that can be useful on the diagnosis, monitoring, control and prevention of multiple high-prevalence diseases. A new generation of smart bio-devices have to contribute to a further personalized medicine at the doctor’s office as well as homecare medicine by decentralizing the traditional healthcare system.

In this sense, Micro/Nano-ElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS/NEMS) are a key enable technology that takes advantages of small devices at the micro- (MEMS) and nano-scale (NEMS) for the development of multiple applications. A very promising application for MEMS is on biomedical market. Thus, Biological/Biomedical MicroElectroMechanical Systems (Bio-MEMS) in medical and health applications brings technologies from Lab-On-Chip (LOC) to Micro-Total Analysis Systems (biosensors, chemosensors, etc…), or embedded in medical devices.

The rapid growth of Bio-MEMS and electrochemical/microfluidic-based LOC technology to biological and biomedical research and applications needs the optimization of advanced manufacturing processes to get true reliable microdevices. Thus, in MANUMEMS project, a thoroughly optimization and automation of the whole manufacturing process of MEMS devices will be achieved. All the parameters to be optimized in the manufacturing chain will be adapted to the development of a specific bio-application for quantitative detection of plasma concentrations in diagnosis and follow-up of an infectious disease, Human Immune-deficiency Virus (HIV). The integration and assembly of the different parts of BioMEMS, such as thin-film microelectrodes, microfluidics and electronics will be also accomplished in order to get full-integrated and low-cost portable diagnosis solutions.

The consortium consists of two distinguished partners from Spain and Turkey. The project is coordinated by MicruX Technologies from Spain and partnering from Turkey is Solar Biotec. The project is scheduled over two and half years with a total budget of 365 K€.

» About MicruX Technologies

MicruX Technologies is an innovative technology-based company focused on the design, development and manufacture of novel miniaturized analytical systems based on Lab-on-a-Chip (LOC) technologies for research and educational activities in microfluidic and electrochemistry field. MicruX Technologies headquarters is located in Oviedo (Asturias) Spain [+].

» About Solar Biotec

SOLAR BIOTEC is an SME specialized in the development of highly portable Point of Care Molecular IVD (In-vitro Diagnostic) Systems and localized in the Health Technopark of Dokuz Eylül University, Turkey [+].

» About ERA.NET MANUNET

MANUNET is a network (ERA-NET) funded by the European Commission. Since 2006 MANUNET has been working with the objective to promote and fund transnational research and development projects in the field of manufacturing, through yearly calls for proposals. MANUNET gathers together regional and national agencies that use their own funding programmes to fund manufacturing research and development projects performed by companies (preferably SMEs), research centers and universities [+]. Regional funding agency for Asturias (Spain) is IDEPA [+].