German SME offers microphysiometric solution for monitoring human organ models

The SME is based in southern Germany and was founded as a spin-off from the Technical University of Munich in 2007. The company developed a new method to investigate the effect of active ingredients toward living systems in vitro. In contrast to established manual and time-consuming methods, the innovative technology is automated, works without the use of markers, and is able to distinguish inhibitory from toxic effects. They are looking for partners to establish the technology in new fields.

The company has more than 10 years of experience in designing, manufacturing and applying microphysiometric systems in the field of biotechnology. By combining expertise in electronic and mechanical engineering, sensor development and microfluidics, the technology enables automated, label-free and real-time measurements of cellular metabolism and morphology. This is accomplished via microsensors for pH, dissolved oxygen and impedance. Based on the acquired data of the microsensors, the extracellular acidification, oxygen consumption and impedance of cellular models is measured to identify changes due external stimuli. For example, the addition of pharmaceutical or toxicologic compounds to the cellular model(s) causes minute changes in the metabolism and morphology, which are measured with the microsensors. Solutions are e.g., available for skin, liver, kidney, blood-brain-barrier, intestine and heart-on-a-chip applications. The SME showed the usability of its technology in cooperation with different research organisations in fields as environmental monitoring, individualized chemotherapy, drug development, toxicity assessment without the use of animal experiments and basic research; relevant scientific publications are available. A quality management system for the manufacturing and service facilities was established and the technology is CE marked (a symbol applied to products to indicate that they conform with relevant EU directives regarding health and safety or environmental protection) as a medical device. The company offers to establish the hardware at customers site to enable the inhouse investigation of organ-models. The company also offers to work as contract research organization (CRO) to deliver reports on organ-on-a-chip assays based on the partner's specification. The SME is looking for commercial agreements with technical assistance, joint venture agreements, research cooperation agreements and financial agreements.