From the 14th to 17th November 2023, Dr. Matt Jellicoe, and Dr. William Stokes (from UNIVLEEDS) visited Fraunhofer IBMTlabs in Sulzbach (Germany) with the aim of coupling a flow-through nanoparticle production line to the cell line module and performing experiments with silver nanoparticles (AgNP) to understand the influence of production parameters on cell viability of the AgNPs. The nanoparticle production line was transferred to IBMT by UNIVLEEDS, where Dr. Jellicoe & Stokes trained the staff at IBMT on how to use the production line.

Additionally, the production line was coupled successfully with the cell line screening module through a VICI switching valve which collected an aliquot of the AgNPs to be pushed with reaction media over the cells which were on the membrane chip.

The colleagues from Fraunhofer IBMT, Dr. Yvonne Kohl & Eng. Thorsten Knoll successfully synthesised AgNPs which were passed over the cells in the chip. Currently, a design of experiments of the chemical space is being undertaken to understand the parameters and their effect on cell viability.

Some impressions of the visit: