The LAMIPoC project (Laser Assisted MIcrofabrication of POC diagnostic microfluidic devices) proposes a cost-effectiveness study of ultrafast laser microfabrication with the aim of identifying a faster and cheaper alternative for the mass production of microfluidic devices.
Point of Care (PoC) devices
With the current healthcare crisis, healthcare facilities have been stretched to capacity and patients requiring routine diagnostic tests are not receiving adequate care.
This situation has greatly increased the importance of reliable and simple diagnostic and monitoring devices that allow these tests to be performed at the patient's home, in pharmacies or in outpatient centers.
Why the LAMIPoc Project?
In this way, the risks of going to health clinics are reduced, speeding up certain procedures, as it is not necessary to have qualified personnel.
In this sense, Point of Care (PoC) devices have been a revolution in terms of innovation in the development of care, monitoring and clinical diagnosis devices, thus constituting an indicator tool of the patient's health.
Examples of the use of Point of Care (PoC) devices
Daily, we live with numerous PoC devices, based on different technologies, of which we are not aware.
The most famous and pioneering are, for example, the glucometers used to measure blood glucose levels in diabetics, or pregnancy tests.
Since the great acceptance of these two devices, numerous others have been developed that have represented a great advance in the field of clinical diagnostics, such as, among others:
- Coagulation test for anticoagulated patients.
- Cardiac marker tests, which allow early detection of coronary syndromes.
- Urine test strips.
- Drug of abuse screening test.
- Blood gas analyser (pulse oximeter), which allows for instantaneous blood oxygen saturation.
- Rapid anti-COVID-19 antibody test.
- Rapid test for COVID-19 antigens.
LAMIPoC: Laser-assisted microfabrication of microfluidic PoC diagnostic devices
At OSF Plastic, we provide our customers with our extensive knowledge and advanced technology in the injection moulding of parts for the medical sector.
With our expertise, we help to optimize manufacturing processes, thus facilitating the transition to industrialization.
In addition, we not only learn about new materials, but also engage in constant innovation in the development of production processes.
This allows us to offer cutting-edge solutions that meet the growing demands of the medical market.
Laser Texturing and Plastic Injection Moulding: Revolutionising Medical Diagnostics
This project aims to demonstrate that laser texturing combined with injection moulding can provide a simpler and cheaper way to create functionalized surfaces on microfluidic polymer chips.
It also evaluates the ability of lasers to generate functionalized surfaces, with the aim of improving the wettability properties of polymeric parts, usually required in diagnostic assays and microfluidic cell culture applications.
Industrial Scale-up and Commercialization of Medical Devices
The development of a solution for the large-scale production of medical diagnostic devices is aligned with the smart industry and personalized health strategic priorities set by the EU and envisaged in the Science, Technology and Innovation Plan 2030- 2030.
The expected results are aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 3 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on Health and Wellbeing, by aiming to contribute to the industrial scale-up and commercialization of medical diagnostic devices at the point of patient care.
Strategic Collaboration in the Development of Microfluidic Devices
This project is carried out in collaboration with Leartiker and ALPhANOV.
Leartiker will contribute its extensive experience in microstructure design, development and testing of microfluidic devices and we, OSFplastic, in plastic injection moulding using injection and compression moulding techniques to manufacture the final parts available for this project.
For its part, ALPhANOV brings its expertise in femtosecond laser technology, necessary for the micro-manufacturing of mould inserts.
ALPhANOV's expertise in laser surface texturing will also be useful for studying the possibility of generating new properties in microstructures, such as increasing the hydrophilicity needed to promote microfluidic flow, adhesion and cell proliferation in PoC (Proof of Concept) devices.
All these qualifications will make it possible to offer complex structures at lower cost within this project.
Moreover, all this is possible thanks to the call for Euroregional Innovation projects of Euskadi, Aquitaine and Navarre.