iBB

In recent years, there has been an increased interest in exploring the potential of micro-and mesoscale milling technologies for developing cost-effective microfluidic systems with high design flexibility and a rapid microfabrication process that does not require a cleanroom. Nevertheless, the number of current studies aiming to fully understand and establish the benefits of this technique in developing high-quality microsystems with simple integrability is still limited. In a recent paper published in Micromachines, BERG-iBB researches, Ana Azevedo and Amin Javidanbardan, in collaboration, with João Pedro Conde and Virginia Chu from INESC-MN, describe a systematic methodology for developing 3D high-quality thermoplastic-based molds for microfluidic structures based on micromilling technology. The work was performed under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 812909 CODOBIO, within the Marie Skłodowska-Curie European Training Networks framework.

Amin Javidanbardan won the Eppendorf Poster Award at the 6th BioProScale Symposium “Innovative scale-up and scale-down for bioprocess intensification.” The event took place virtually from 29.03. to 31.03.2021. Amin presented his poster with the title “Rapid and cost-effective fabrication of microchromatography integrated with microelectrode impedance sensor.” Amin, a Marie Curie Early-Stage Researcher of the ITN action “CODOBIO,” is enrolled in the Ph.D. program of Biotechnology and Biosciences and is being supervised by Ana Azevedo (iBB-BERG) and João Pedro Conde (INESC-MN), both from the Department of Bioengineering. Congratulations Amin!

The first consortium meeting of the EU-funded ITN CODOBIO: Continuous Downstream Processing of Biologics was held on the 22nd October at IST, Lisbon. The consortium involves 20 participants from Academia, Industry and Regulatory Agencies. Thirty two members were present in the meeting including the 15 Early Stage Researchers. Amin Javidanbardan and Malik Wahab from BERG-iBB had the opportunity to present their PhD projects, which focus on the miniaturization of continuous bioprocesses using microfluidics.

The development of new scale-down models for accelerated and cost-effective biopharmaceutical process development has been receiving considerable attention in the last decade. Microfluidic systems have emerged as a particularly attractive candidate by offering miniaturization, parallelization, and allowing continuous and precise pumping and online monitoring possible. In a collaborative work, published in Journal of Chromatography A, BERG-iBB researchers Ana Azevedo and Amin Javidanbardan, together with INESC-MN researchers João Pedro Conde and Virginia Chu, propose a simple and cost-effective method for developing microfluidic chromatographic systems with integrated sensors. Fabrication and integration of microsensors, in this case, an impedance sensor, in each microcolumn provided the possibility of parallelizing experiments with separate online monitoring. The work was performed under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 812909 CODOBIO, within the Marie Skłodowska-Curie European Training Networks framework.

Instituto Superior Técnico (Lisbon) invites applications for 2 PhD positions in Biotechnology and Biosciences (Early Stage Researchers) to join the Marie Skłodowska Curie European Training Network CODOBIO: Continuous Downstream Processing of Biologics. The available projects “Miniaturized platform to capture bio-products through liquid-liquid extraction and solvent-free” and "Microfluidic devices for continuous chromatography" aim at the establishment of miniaturized platforms for continuous extraction and chromatography to aid process design and development. More information can be obtained by clicking the project titles. Candidates should send applications to a.azevedo@tecnico.ulisboa.pt (e-mail ref: “CODOBIO-ESR10”) by the 5th March 2019.