Competitive research projects funded by external entities
Microlaser acoustic sensors for mechanical barcoding of cells and particles
| Acronym | M-BARC |
|---|---|
| Project title | Microlaser acoustic sensors for mechanical barcoding of cells and particles |
| External reference | 101298601 |
| Description/abstract | Every microscopic system, whether biological or synthetic, carries a unique mechanical signature reflecting its structure, function, and state. Accessing this hidden layer of information could transform how we study, diagnose, and engineer complex systems. Existing methods depend on chemical labels or physical contact and fall short in sensitivity and throughput. M-BARC introduces the first mechanical barcoding platform, a universal, non-invasive, label-free sensor that reads intrinsic mechanical signatures at single-cell precision and population-level throughput. The platform uniquely integrates microring lasers, acoustics, and microfluidics into a compact device. Subtle mechanical responses are converted into precise optical signals, producing a “mechanical barcode” that identifies cells, particles, and soft microstructures. We will demonstrate the potential of this technology through three application cases addressing two strategic European domains: healthcare and agriculture/food. In animal reproductive technologies (in vitro fertilization, IVF), success rates remain low (25–30%) due to the absence of quantitative assessment tools. By extracting mechanical information from oocytes and embryos, we will provide this missing tool, improving reproductive outcomes and enabling sustainable breeding in precision agriculture. In public health (antimicrobial resistance, AMR), we will probe bacterial mechanics to reveal drug-resistance signatures, enabling faster, more accurate diagnostics and improved medical treatment. In pharmaceutical drug screening, we will quantify organoid contractility through tissue mechanics, establishing a mechanical assay platform and ultimately creating the first non-invasive mechanical plate reader for high-throughput testing, enhancing diagnostic accuracy and drug development in healthcare. There is no existing technology to monitor the mechanical status of cells, bacteria, and spheroids/organoids, which provides key information to their |
| Financing entity | EUROPEAN COMMISSION |
| Amount granted | 994.287,50 € |
| Call | HORIZON-CL4-2025-04. Topic:HORIZON-CL4-2025-04-DIGITAL-EMERGING-01.Type of action:HORIZON-IA.2025 |
| Start date | 20-05-2026 |
| End date | 01-01-2000 |
| Department/PI | Química Física i Inorgànica/MATEOS FERRÉ, XAVIER |
| Field | Europeu |
| Status | Completed |
