Intraoperative fibrin formation in the anterior chamber of the eye is a clinically relevant complication that can compromise the success of ophthalmic procedures such as Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK) and glaucoma filtering surgery. Despite its clinical importance, surgeons currently rely exclusively on visual assessment, while no technology is available for rapid and quantitative intraoperative fibrin measurement in aqueous humor.
The SAFE project aims to develop and validate an innovative prognostic sensing platform capable of providing rapid quantitative fibrin detection from aqueous humor samples during ophthalmic surgery. The main technological outcome of the project will be a SERS-assisted microfluidic chip enabling highly sensitive and selective fibrin detection through affinity-based molecular recognition strategies. The platform will integrate optimized microfluidic architectures with advanced SERS-active substrates based on vertically aligned ZnO nanorods functionalized with gold plasmonic nanostructures. This approach is expected to provide enhanced electromagnetic field localization, high hotspot accessibility, improved signal reproducibility and quantitative detection capabilities in complex biological matrices. Dedicated biofunctionalization strategies based on specific fibrin-recognition elements and sandwich immunoassay approaches will further improve analytical sensitivity and specificity.
Beyond ex-vivo analysis, SAFE will explore the translation of the sensing concept toward minimally invasive in-vivo applications through the development of Lab-on-Fiber SERS optrodes integrated into biomedical needles. These fiber-optic probes will be assessed in realistic ophthalmic scenarios using dedicated 3D-printed eye phantoms containing aqueous-mimetic solutions with controlled fibrin concentrations, paving the way toward future intraoperative sensing directly inside the anterior chamber.
The developed sensing platforms will be validated using artificial aqueous humor and clinical samples collected during cataract surgery, DMEK and glaucoma filtering procedures. The project will establish the correlation between fibrin concentration and clinically relevant surgical decision thresholds, providing quantitative information to support intraoperative management and personalized therapeutic strategies.
SAFE addresses a major unmet clinical need by introducing a new generation of prognostic sensing tools for ophthalmic surgery. The project combines expertise in photonics, nanofabrication, microfluidics, molecular biology, biomedical engineering and ophthalmology, creating a highly interdisciplinary research framework. Beyond its direct clinical application, SAFE is expected to advance knowledge in SERS-enabled microfluidic diagnostics and Lab-on-Fiber technologies, contributing to the development of innovative point-of-care platforms for precision medicine and future translational healthcare applications.
The SAFE project aims to develop and validate an innovative prognostic sensing platform capable of providing rapid quantitative fibrin detection from aqueous humor samples during ophthalmic surgery. The main technological outcome of the project will be a SERS-assisted microfluidic chip enabling highly sensitive and selective fibrin detection through affinity-based molecular recognition strategies. The platform will integrate optimized microfluidic architectures with advanced SERS-active substrates based on vertically aligned ZnO nanorods functionalized with gold plasmonic nanostructures. This approach is expected to provide enhanced electromagnetic field localization, high hotspot accessibility, improved signal reproducibility and quantitative detection capabilities in complex biological matrices. Dedicated biofunctionalization strategies based on specific fibrin-recognition elements and sandwich immunoassay approaches will further improve analytical sensitivity and specificity.
Beyond ex-vivo analysis, SAFE will explore the translation of the sensing concept toward minimally invasive in-vivo applications through the development of Lab-on-Fiber SERS optrodes integrated into biomedical needles. These fiber-optic probes will be assessed in realistic ophthalmic scenarios using dedicated 3D-printed eye phantoms containing aqueous-mimetic solutions with controlled fibrin concentrations, paving the way toward future intraoperative sensing directly inside the anterior chamber.
The developed sensing platforms will be validated using artificial aqueous humor and clinical samples collected during cataract surgery, DMEK and glaucoma filtering procedures. The project will establish the correlation between fibrin concentration and clinically relevant surgical decision thresholds, providing quantitative information to support intraoperative management and personalized therapeutic strategies.
SAFE addresses a major unmet clinical need by introducing a new generation of prognostic sensing tools for ophthalmic surgery. The project combines expertise in photonics, nanofabrication, microfluidics, molecular biology, biomedical engineering and ophthalmology, creating a highly interdisciplinary research framework. Beyond its direct clinical application, SAFE is expected to advance knowledge in SERS-enabled microfluidic diagnostics and Lab-on-Fiber technologies, contributing to the development of innovative point-of-care platforms for precision medicine and future translational healthcare applications.