Microresonators for point-of-care diagnostics of pathogenic germs

The untargeted and excessive use of antibiotics in in-patient treatment increasingly results in deadly infections caused by multi-resistant germs. To halt this development and to increase the chance of therapy success, it is necessary to acquire reliable diagnostic data on these germs more quickly. The aim of the project is therefore to develop an analysis system which is innovative, fast and particularly sensitive.

The work focuses on so-called whispering gallery mode (WGM) microresonators, which make bacteria-resistant markers visible and accessible for diagnostics. This method changes resonance conditions in micrometer-sized particles on which capture molecules, such as antibodies, are bound using target molecules or pathogens. In doing so, the spectrum of target molecules ranges from DNA/RNA, through proteins and lipids, to metabolites. One single charged particle is enough to give a positive test result. Thus WGM technology can in some cases be more sensitive than conventional methods such as PCR or mass spectrometry.

Project partners

Participating research institute

  • Furtwangen University, Institute of Precision Medicine

Companies involved (project-accompanying committee)

  • DIARECT AG
  • InfanDx AG
  • Laborärzte Singen GbR
  • M24You GmbH
  • MCAT GmbH
  • NanoBioAnalytics
  • QIAGEN Lake Constance GmbH
  • SmartDyeLivery GmbH
  • SPECTARIS, Dt. Industrieverband
  • Steinbeis GmbH für Technologietransfer
  • Surflay Nanotex GmbH
  • Uniklinik RTWH Aachen

Funding

The IGF Project Nr. 20934 N of the Precision Engineering, Optics and Medical Engineering Research Association (Forschungsvereinigung Feinmechanik, Optik und Medizintechnik) is funded as a result of a resolution of the German Parliament within the framework of the Funding of Industrial Community Research (IGF) programme of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy.

InfektResonator (I26904-1)
InfektResonator (I26904-2)

Contact details