Human++ - biomedical electronics
Molecular detection platforms
A medical lab of only 1cm³ for fast, easy-to-use, cost-effective tests
Our growing understanding of the molecular mechanism of diseases calls for sophisticated technology to take advantage of this knowledge. Disease-indicating molecules are often found at such low concentrations that their detection requires controllable and reliable sample preparation and increasingly sensitive detectors.
Miniaturizing and integrating laboratory operations onto a single compact lab-on-chip device paves the way towards fast, easy-to-use and cost-effective diagnostic systems that can be used at the point of need, in the hospital, at the doctor’s office.
Imec develops technologies for sensitive and true multifunctional lab-on-chip systems:
- Surface chemistry
- Bioplasmonics- and biomagnetism-based nanobiosensors
- Nanofluidics
- Lab-on-chip systems
Nanoparticles: the holy grail of diagnostics and therapy
The size of nanoparticles approaches those of biological entities such as viruses, proteins or DNA thereby facilitating interaction while improving their individual interrogation and manipulation. Nanometer-sized particles present unique and tunable biochemical and physical properties inherent to their size. By altering materials, size, shape and by surface functionalization it is possible to devise tailor-made tools to specifically probe cellular and sub-cellular processes in vivo and in vitro. For example, nanoparticles can be used to enhance the contrast of MRI scans and for targeted therapy such as tumor ablation.
Imec develops synthesis and biofunctionalization protocols for nanoparticles.
Together with partners, we deliver proof of concept of biomedical applications of nanoparticles for in-vitro and in-vivo diagnostics and for therapy.