Researchers Aim to Develop a Mobile Diagnostics Platform for General Practitioners

A diagnostic test for ­infections that works ­directly in the general ­practitioner’s office – ­without long waiting times or complex laboratory analyses: This is the goal of Andreea ­Winterfeld and her team in the RaInMo project. The core of their work is a laser-based ­rapid test developed at the ­Leibniz IPHT, combined with in-house filters from the Center for ­Micro- and ­Nanotechnologies.

In the case of bacterial infections, rapid and precise diagnosis is crucial. However, microbiological identification of pathogens can take up to three days – a period during which patients are often treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics that may be ineffective and contribute to antibiotic resistance. This is where the project RaInMo comes into play. The team is developing a laser-based rapid test that can detect antibiotic resistance in about 3.5 hours – right in the doctor’s office, eliminating the need for specialized laboratories.

Aluminum-coated Filters as a Key Technology

“Our goal is to develop a diagnostic system that is fast, easy to use and works on site,” says Dr. Andreea Winterfeld, who is co-developing the system at Leibniz IPHT. Together with Biophotonics Diagnostics GmbH, the Waldkliniken Eisenberg and the general practice of Dr. Börner in Katzhütte, the team is working on a compact test system.

The core of the system is the RamanBioAssay® developed at Leibniz IPHT, which optically characterizes bacteria in a sample. This is complemented by the Ramanmetrix® analysis software, which uses artificial intelligence to evaluate the spectral data.

A crucial component of the system are special filter plates with thin aluminum coatings. These coatings are applied in a vacuum deposition process under the supervision of Dr. Uwe Hübner in the clean room of the Center for Micro- and Nanotechnologies at Leibniz IPHT. The coated filters isolate bacteria from the sample and make them measurable using Raman spectroscopy. “Without the aluminum layer, we wouldn’t be able to measure bacterial cells because conventional filter materials produce a Raman signal that is too strong,” explains Andreea Winterfeld.

From Research to General Practice

To be of practical use, the test must not only be technically precise, but also easy to use. In research, there are already portable diagnostic systems that use mechanical forces for sample preparation – for example, a technique that uses a fidget spinner to separate bacteria from urine samples. RaInMo takes a similar approach, using filter technology and Raman spectroscopy to quickly analyze samples without the need for large laboratory equipment.

The RaInMo project is part of the wecare initiative, which tests new medical technologies in real-world settings. The goal is to bring innovative diagnostics to places where they are needed most – such as rural areas where specialized laboratories are often unavailable. “We are working to ensure that this technology can be seamlessly integrated into the daily routine of general practitioners,” says Andreea Winterfeld.