PROJECTS & FUNDING AGENCIES

• Title:Consolidation and structuring of competitive research units and other promotion actions
• Grant Ref. ED431C-2020/09
  
• Partners: Universidade de Vigo
• Funding: GAIN – Xunta de Galicia
• Star/End: October 2020 – November 2023

Aid to consolidate, structure and specialize the most competitive research units of the Galician R + D + i System through the modality of competitive reference groups that, due to their scientific production and their R + D activity, constitute a reference in the Galician System of R + D + I

• Title: Rational Design of High Efficiency SERS TAG for Detection by Immunoassay and Bioimaging – TAGSING
• Partners: Universidade de Vigo
• Funding: Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación
• Stard / End: June 2020 – January 2024

The TAGSING project’s general objective is the rational design, manufacture and careful characterization of high-performance SERS encoded nanoparticles (SERS tags) to overcome certain aspects/drawbacks with limits the development of point of care (PoC) immunoassays based on SERS (multiplex capabilities in lateral-flow immunoassay, or false positives in sandwich-type immunoassay) and to contribute to the development of new in vitro strategies of bioimaging (such as, SERS based bioimaging using bacterial cells combined with SERS tags). This project is presented in the context of research that PIs have developed over the past 20 years related to the synthesis, characterization and surface modification of plasmonic nanoparticles and their applications in biosensing. In this proposal, we present a multidisciplinary approach as it encompasses the design and development of plasmonic nanostructures with well-defined optical properties, the structural, compositional and optical characterization, the fabrication of SERS tags libraries and characterization of their SERS efficiency and the application of the SERS tags in SERS-based immunoassay and for in vitro monitoring of different aspects of the bacterial infection process to human cancer cells. The combination of such a cutting-edge technology in interdisciplinary fields such as Chemistry, Materials Science, Nanotechnology and Biomedicine is expected to provide impactful results to the Spanish and European research, technological, development and innovation system. Fulfilling the requirements of the Retos de la Sociedad Health identified within the Spanish Strategy for Science and Technology and Innovation 2013-2020, as well as the Key Enabling Technologies, and more precisely Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials. The results and innovations that are expected will significantly advance the state of the art in the synthesis of high-performance SERS tags, in the fabrication of plasmonic nanostructures and more importantly will contribute to promote SERS-based technology from proof-of-concept research works to commercially available analytical and bioimaging tools.

• Title: Surface enhanced Raman scattering bacterial biosensors for ultrasensitive multiplex detection (BACTOSERS)
• Partners: Universidade de Vigo
• Funding: Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación
• Stard / End: June 2020 – February 2024

BACTOSERS is a highly interdisciplinary project that merges synthetic biology, plasmonics and nanotechnology to advance beyond the state-of-the-art and realize a new biosensing technology.
The widespread use of bacterial biosensors is hampered by their low sensitivity, poor multiplex detection capabilities and lack of portability due to the downstream use of conventional light and fluorescence spectroscopy for detection. Hence, radically new approaches oriented to enhance sensitivity, multiplexing capabilities and portability of current biosensor systems are urgently needed. In order to overcome the aforementioned bottlenecks, BACTOSERS will develop proof-of-principle optical bacterial biosensors based on surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy.
BACTOSERS aims to link the simultaneous, and ultrasensitive detection of multiple target chemicals with the production of SERS-active reporter molecules using E. coli bacteria as the biosensor chassis. With this aim, we will engineer the inducible expression of biosynthetic pathways leading to the production of SERS-active bacterial metabolites under the control of highly optimized transcription factors-based sensors. These genetic circuits will be integrated into the bacterial chromosome, generating strains termed SERS reporter of E. coli (SREC), which will express SERS active molecules upon detecting target inducer molecules. In this project the implementation of the technology in miniaturized lab-on-a-chip devices for on-site sensing with portable Raman instruments will be also explored.

• Title: Advanced Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) based technologies for gas and liquids sensING in the area of chemical protection – SERSING
• Grant Agreement Nº 883390
• Partners: DANMARKS TEKNISKE UNIVERSITET, UNIVERSITEIT TWENTE, UNIVERSITY OF VIGO, SERSTECH AB, TOTALFORSVARETS FORSKNINGSINSTITUT, STATNI USTAV JADERNE, CHEMICKE A BIOLOGICKE OCHRANY VVI, UNIVERSIDAD DE ZARAGOZA, SILMECO APS, CSIC, IISGS
• Funding: UE
• Stard / End: July 2020 – June 2024
• www.sersing.eu
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Rapid detection and identification of chemical hazards can save lives. The EU-funded SERSing project will develop micro-devices that can be integrated into lightweight, portable Raman equipment, aimed at identifying chemical hazards at low concentrations in the liquid and gas phase, as well as in various environments. This ultra-sensitive and reliable laboratory technology on a chip is designed for immediate intervention services and is based on Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS). It can also be customized to combine geolocation and communication technologies. In addition, the project will allow the installation of the miniaturized platform in robotic units that can be deployed in dangerous situations.

• Title: Ultrasensitive BIOsensing platform for multiplex CELLular protein PHEnotyping at single-cell level – BIOCELLPHE
• Grant Agreement Nº 965018
• Partners: UNIVERSIDADE DE VIGO, UNIVERSIDAD POLITECNICA DE MADRID, INL, CSIC, ISTITUTI CLINICI SCIENTIFICI MAUGERI SOCIETA’ PER AZIONI SOCIETA’ BENEFI, INSTITUT NATIONAL DE LA SANTE ET DE LA RECHERCHE MEDICAL, INSTITUT NATIONAL DE RECHERCHE POUR L’AGRICULTURE, L’ALIMENTATION ET L’ENVIRONNEMENT, RUBINANOMED, TEMATYS
• Funding: UE
• Stard / End: May 2021 – April 2025
• www.biocellphe.eu
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BIOCELLPHE provides frontier scientific and technological advancements to generate a breakthrough technology realizing the identification of proteins (i.e. phenotyping) as diagnostic biomarkers at single-cell level with unmatched sensitivity, multiplexing capabilities and portability. BIOCELLPHE proposes the generation of engineered bacteria able to recognize and bind to specific protein targets on the surface of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) responsible for cancer metastasis, thereby triggering the production of chemical signals that can be detected simultaneously, and with extremely high sensitivity by surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). SERS is a powerful analytical technique that employs plasmonic nanoparticles as optical enhancers for ultrasensitive chemical analysis achieving single-molecule detection level. BIOCELLPHE will implement these advancements toward the generation of an optofluidic lab-on-a-chip SERS device enabling ultrasensitive identification and multiplex phenotyping of CTCs. We anticipate that BIOCELLPHE long-term vision and scientific breakthrough will lead to a sky limit technology that will be widely applicable, not only in the diagnostic arena, but also in many other applications (e.g. biomedical, environmental). No one has previously been able to attempt this vision due to current challenges and technical limitations, but we believe to be in a position to pave a way for achieving this now. To realize this highly ambitious project, BIOCELLPHE gathers a highly multidisciplinary community of leading experts in synthetic biology, nanotechnology, plasmonics, microfluidics, artificial intelligence, and cancer diagnosis. We believe that successful deployment of BIOCELLPHE has the potential to usher in a new era of medical diagnostics and it will provide new paradigms in biology and biomedicine, advancing frontier science and technologies at the European academic and industrial sectors.

• Title: Climate adaptable bioinspired polaritonic energy harvesters (CATARSIS)
• Partners: Universidade de Vigo
• Funding: Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación
• Stard / End: December 2022 / may 2025

Web Catarsis

Modern society’s inefficient energy consumption and reliance on pollutant fossil fuels have led to the critical issue of climate change. Addressing this requires the development of highly efficient energy technologies that can adapt to changing climate conditions. In the field of solar energy, we need to explore energy harvesting paradigms that not only improve photon absorption but also reduce losses, extend product lifetimes, and adapt to potential climate shocks. The CATARSIS project aims to draw inspiration from nature, specifically how plants transform solar energy and adapt to varying climates through photosynthesis. By mimicking photosynthesis at multiple scales—from molecular to macro-sized devices—CATARSIS seeks to achieve near-perfect energy transport efficiency.
CATARSIS will use synthetic biology to create pigments with quantum properties similar to natural photosynthetic pigments. The project will develop three inventories of ultra-efficient energy capture materials using polaritons. These inventories include polaritonic thin films that mimic photosynthetic complexes, nanoparticles capable of trapping light at the nanoscale, and nanocomposite thin films that adapt to different climatic conditions. These materials aim to enhance efficiency and reduce heat losses. The efficiency will be tested with demonstrators in varying solar irradiation conditions. The multidisciplinary approach of CATARSIS, involving experts in applied physics, colloidal chemistry, nanomaterials, synthetic biology, and photosynthesis biomimetics, underpins its innovative vision.

• Title: Plasmonic-MOF thin films for Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS)-based sensing of volatile organic compounds and enantiomeric discrimination (PLASMOFSERS)
• Partners: Universidade de Vigo
• Funding: Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación
• Stard / End: September 2023 – August 2026

Although PLASMOFSERS is a non-oriented project, we expect the plasmonic-MOFs thin film and their sensing capabilities to contribute to fields such as Environmental Protection and Health. Since we will design thin films for multiplex and quantitative detection of exhaust gases that show harmful effects on the environment and humans or VOCs which are potential biomarkers. Therefore, the results and innovations from PLASMOFSERS (for example, novel non-invasive diagnostic tools) could have a strong social and economic impact in the medium-large term playing a pivotal role in the economic growth of the EU. Accordingly, they can offer great social benefit in some of the Spanish Societal Challenges defined by the Spanish Strategy of Science, Technology, and Innovation (2021-2027): Health (1) and Alimentation, Bioeconomy Natural Resources and Environment (6). But, we believe that their unique properties could be explored in other fields of applications. Finally, PLASMOFSERS will foster the career of young researchers with multidisciplinary training to become outstanding professionals with expertise in Nanoscience, Colloidal Chemistry and Nanotechnology, mainly. Therefore, it could play a pivotal role in the job creation strategy of Spain and the enhancement of competitiveness.

• Title: Adaptable bio-inspired polariton-polariton energy management (ADAPTATION)
• Grant Agreement Nº 101129661
  
• Partners: UNIVERSIDADE DO MINHO (COORDINADOR), INL, CSIC, UNIVERSITY OF STRASBOURG, UNIVERSITY OF UTRECH, AVANZARE INNOVACION TECNOLOGICA SL, SUNPLUGGED – SOLARE ENERGIESYSTEME GMBH, COOLING PHOTONICS SL, UNIVERSITY OF VIGO
• Funding: UE
• Stard / End: April 2024 – March 2028

Humanity is approaching a cornerstone where Climate Change will transform society, industry and economy. Therefore, moving away from inefficient energy consumption and fossil fuels is more urgent than ever. Renewable energy sources are growing fast but their full integration will make necessary not just a boost of their efficiency but rather a quantum leap in energy management. Such paradigm change will come from technologies adaptable to changing climate conditions and, importantly, making use of widely available non-critical materials. ADAPTATION vision is to challenge current paradigms in solar energy harvesting and their integration by developing a new solar material platform that will integrate thermal management and energy collection in a single material, reducing electricity peak profile and allowing easy adaptation of the energy harvesting properties to different climate conditions. For this purpose, we will take inspiration from the two most efficient energy management processes on Earth: photosynthesis and terrestrial radiative cooling. ADAPTATION will mimic simultaneously the strategies followed by plants during photosynthesis to collect and manage energy at the nanoscale and the power-free radiative cooling of Earth by thermal regulation at the microscale. These extraordinary energy collection and managing strategies are robust to disorder and provide self-regulatory cooling capacities which make them ideal to be integrated into a wide spectrum of physical objects, powering them with a sustainable energy source. In ADAPTATION we Will develop the building blocks for this technology and will demonstrate its implementation with two sustainable novel device architectures. Our innovative vision is based on the multidisciplinary background of its consortium with experts in geosciences, polaritonic photonics, colloidal and supramolecular chemistry, materials engineering, quantum technologies or photovoltaics including high-tech industrial implementation.