Within the Biomedical Production Technology program, processes and equipment are developed involving the entire value chain. This is spread across five projects:
Overview of our projects
Biomed 01
One-stop-shop
This project focuses on three main requirements to align the value chain for biomedical production:
i) Produceable and integrable biomedical building blocks,
ii) Development of suitable production machines, and
iii) Appropriate (common) production processes.
Additionally, it is necessary to standardize and qualify these processes according to the latest guidelines from regulatory bodies.
In Biomedical Production Technology, the necessary common machines and processes have been identified and are being brought together in an ecosystem known as the One-Stop-Shop. This is a term for the 'counter' behind which the chain is aligned: end-users thus have access to all multidisciplinary knowledge and aligned technology in one (virtual) place.
The Biomed02 project, Lab-on-Chip, develops high-quality diagnostic automated systems, based on the integration of electronic, photonic, and biotechnological sectors on the surface of a miniaturized chip. This leads to a general platform for serology, DNA detection, drug development, and chemiluminescence. Through this, the Netherlands uses its strong ecosystem to become a leader in improved biomedical analyses.
Biomed 02
Lab-on-chip
Biomed 03
Organ-on-chip
In the Biomed03 "Organ-on-Chip" project, we are dedicated to reshaping and tailoring industrial production processes for advanced and standardized organ-on-chip (OoC) platforms. The Netherlands excels in knowledge and expertise in OoC technology, and we are talking the next step for further impactful progress: the establishment of an integrated production technology chain for OoC.
Biomed03 aims to reach this goal by catalysing and streamlining multi-disciplinary collaboration among chip developers, machine builders, process technologists, and biologists. By uniting these diverse disciplines into one ecosystem, we aim to construct a cohesive production chain capable of seamlessly integrating specialized technological and biological components.
Through the implementation of three demonstration platforms of increasing functionality, modularity and autonomy, we aim to prove the feasibility and efficacy of our integrated approach. Our mission is clear: to bridge the gap between theory and practice, and between invention and standardization – thereby unlocking the full potential of OoC technology, and accelerating its adoption by the widest range of end users by fulfilling their specific purposes.
In the 'Artificial Organs' project, we are working on new technologies to create the artificial organs of the future, focusing on artificial kidneys and blood vessels. We are establishing protocols and processes for the production of the first generation of portable artificial kidneys and vessels. Additionally, we are exploring how to make the artificial kidney increasingly smaller and eventually implantable. The approach is multidisciplinary and aimed at improving or even eliminating the need for dialysis treatment. We are developing new high-tech components such as new membranes that can better filter waste from the blood, materials (sorbents and catalysts) that can bind and break down these wastes, and biodegradable smart biomaterials that can serve as the basis for artificial blood vessels. Finally, we are also working on very small micro-electromechanical systems that can generate energy used for the electronic control of future implantable artificial kidneys.
Biomed 04
Artificial organs
Biomed 05
Cell cultivation technology
Cell cultivation plays a central role in various next-generation technologies. From advancements in cell and gene therapy, to the production of vaccines, replacing animal models, discovering novel drugs, and enabling the creation of cultivated meat and leather. Meeting the demand for high numbers of high-quality cells, bioreactor technology tailored for cell cultivation is necessary. These bioreactors provide an ideal environment wherein crucial factors like oxygen, temperature and pH are being regulated. However, more factors play a role in successful cell cultivation, like nutrients and growth factors.
Biomed05 collaborates closely with end-users to pioneer novel technologies aimed at next-generation bioreactors for further automation and precise control over cell cultivation processes. This involves innovative sensor technology to continuously monitor cell death, the development of animal-component-free cell cultivation media, and the seamless integration of the different components into the next-generation bioreactors via microfluidics. This way, far-reaching control over the cell culture process will be realized, leading to high-quality cells and cell-derived products.