Biointelligent sensor to measure viral activity for therapeutics production: BIOPROS

In short

The BioProS project is developing a novel biohybrid sensor technology that monitors cell-based viral infection cycles in real time to realize highly efficient production processes with inline quality control. Optical sensor technology is used in combination with cell-based measurement principles.

In detail

The production of viral vectors involves many expensive and error-prone handling procedures. Therefore, a new method that simplifies these processes is needed. In the BioProS project, a biointelligent sensor for measuring viral activity for the production of therapeutics is being researched. To this end, optical sensor technology is being combined with cell-based measurement principles.

Fraunhofer IPA is the overall coordinator of the project, which is funded by the HORIZON Europe program with more than six million euros. In the Fraunhofer IPA subproject, among other things, a flexible, automated platform technology is being developed to establish the measurement principle for viral infectivity and to perform multiparametric analyses using living cells as the measurement unit. This enables faster and more efficient process development. The flexibility of the platform allows the development of cell-based sensors to be adapted to several specific substances and virus types. This enables the application in different industries and production environments. As such a platform technology is complex, numerous European partners from different disciplines such as biology, engineering and mechanical engineering or computer science are working together. 

BioProS contributes significantly to sustainable and resilient manufacturing processes in the EU.