Biomarker patterns in extracellular vesicles (KI-VesD)

Using artificial intelligence, biomarker patterns from plasmatic extracellular vesicles (pEV) are to be analyzed and used for the diagnosis of cancer. The purification and concentration of pEV using centrifugal microfluidics (LabDisk) is a core component of the project.

The early diagnosis of a tumor is a prerequisite for a gentle and successful treatment. Biomarkers from the blood (liquid biopsy) are considered to be an ideal way to detect tumor growth. Preliminary work has shown that extracellular vesicles from plasma (pEV) increase in number in the course of disease processes and acquire numerous immune system effectors.

Preliminary AI-based analyses confirmed the high discriminatory power of pEV biomarkers in different disease processes. Therefore, in the project KI-VesD a pEV-based rapid test system for tumor diseases shall be investigated. The goal is a compact point-of-care (PoC) system consisting of disposable microfluidic cartridges and an analyzer. In the cartridge, the automated and reliable extraction of pEV from a blood sample with connected quantification of the markers is performed. The marker patterns are then evaluated using artificial intelligence (AI) methods. The overarching vision of the proposal is to improve tumor early detection and aftercare so that gentle and cost-saving therapies can be initiated in time.