In this project I will develop an integrated multi-module platform in which a breast cancer ecosystem-on-a-chip (BCE-on-a-chip) bioreactor module, connected to an optical biosensing module based on multiplexed Resonant Nanopillars (R-NPs) transducers, will be developed for biomarkers and anti-breast cancer drug real-time monitoring.

Currently attrition rates in clinical trials for new anti-cancer drugs and personalized treatments are higher than all other therapeutic areas. Mainly due to the great reliability on conventional 2D and 3D scaffolds in-vitro culture methodologies in preclinical studies. Those cell-based models are limited by their¿ inability to conserve the patient tumor features and do not accurately show drug response, observed later in clinical trials.

Due to the increasing number of cancer diagnoses, an engineered system that allows an accurate prediction of patient tumor response to anti-cancer drug, is urgently needed.

In Bitform Project I will develop a BCE-on-a-chip bioreactor that intends to conserve the cancer tissue characteristics with high reliability. Breast cancer cell secreted biomarkers will be monitored in real-time with a multiplexed biosensing module based on R-NPs. In order to assess the capability of Bitform platform, an anti-cancer drug demonstrator (Paclitaxel) will be tested. By delivering Paclitaxel to the BCE-on-a-chip, monitoring of different cell secreted target biomarkers will permit to evaluate the effect of this drug, and thus to demonstrate the performance of the platform.

The Bitform platform will be suitable for different organ-on-chip culture models and biomolecules monitoring secreted by the cells. This will lead to a new methodology for testing anti-cancer therapies on-a-chip. This is a relevant milestone to study the further potential of the Bitform Platform in personalized medicine, which can have a transformative impact not only on the outcome but also on the costs of treatments by avoiding expensive failures.