VersaDrop - Versatile droplet handling and analysis for deeper microbial sample screening
In the VersaDrop project, a digital microfluidic platform is being developed that makes the handling of picolitre droplets containing microbial cultures even more flexible for high throughput approaches. By high-throughput testing of many different growth conditions in a single experiment, the search for new drugs against infectious diseases will become much more efficient. As a further development of the pure activity screening established in the FastDrop project (identification phase), it will enable drop division, upscaling, long-term storage, observation and controlled droplet positioning for photonic and spectroscopic analysis. Rapid activity screening in combination with slow multiparameter functional screenings should minimize the rate of rediscoveries already in the platform in order to get faster from a hit to the new lead substance.
Participating Scientists
Prof. Dr. Miriam Agler-Rosenbaum
Project Coordinator
Leibniz-HKI • Bio Pilot Plant
Prof. Dr. Jürgen Popp
Principal Investigator
Leibniz-IPHT • Spectroscopy / Imaging
Prof. Dr. Andreas Tünnermann
Principal Investigator
Fraunhofer-IOF • Laser Technologies
Dr. Erik Beckert
Principal Investigator
Fraunhofer-IOF • Beam shaping optics for semiconductor lasers
Dr. Thomas Bocklitz
Principal Investigator
FSU • Statistical Modelling and Image Analysis
Dr. Tobias Meyer
Principal Investigator
Leibniz-IPHT • Spectroscopy / Imaging
Dr. Sven Schröder
Principal Investigator
Fraunhofer-IOF • Surface and layer characterization
Anne-Sophie Munser
Doctoral student
Fraunhofer-IOF • Surface and layer characterization
Shulin Wohlfeil
Doctoral student
Fraunhofer-IOF • Beam shaping optics for semiconductor lasers