The project An Integrated Platform for Cardiac Toxicology and Efficacy (INTEC) is a collaboration between the innovative Europeand SMEs Fluicell and Cytocypher responding to the lack of predicitve cardiac models for drug screening and medical research.
The goal of INTEC is to develop an integrated platform, combining a microfluidic flow probe with cardiac high-content contractility systems for single cell investigations. This platform will enhance our understanding of cardiac cell behaviour and functionality, through advanced cardiac cell monitoring techniques, localized solution delivery, and automated imaging systems that allows for in-silico modelling and AI-driven identification of cardiac model responses. This integrated approach will optimize tissue usage and advance cardiac toxicology and efficacy assessments, leading to more precise evaluations of potential new therapies.
Platform modules
The INTEC solution is based on the combination of multiple technolgies into a unified platform where each of the platform modules is developed in parallell in preparation for integration into a unified platform.
Our aim is to establish an interchangeable module for hydrodynamically confined flow probes, covering single cell, multi-solution, large area as well as collection fluidics. Flow characteristics will be tuned to minimize any disturbances in the cardiac high-content calcium and contractility systems, when coupled into a single platform.
Localized solution delivery and imaging
The INTEC project will include coupling of localized solution delivery technology with automated imaging systems for capturing comprehensive information about cardiac cell behavior and functionality. Our goals include establishing operator-independent cell identification and localization and achieving high throughput through automated cell selection and probe placement
Single cell investigation
We will perform single-cell investigations using the integrated platform to generate multiparametric data on cardiac cell responses to stimuli. The generated data will be used to establish response libraries for in-silico modeling and subsequent AI-based analysis. Key importance will be to benchmark the proof-of-concept platform against other available technologies, to aid in early identification of market leading USP’s.
AI cardiac model
An important part of INTEC will be to develop and implement AI algorithms for the identification of cardiac model responses based on the comprehensive data obtained from single-cell investigations. We will use the data generated from single-cell measurements together with deep learning models to develop a ‘signature’ of the changes in contractile response upon a treatment. These algorithms will aid in accurate efficacy assessments.
INTEC 