Paper-Based Bacterial and Resistance Profiling
Timelapse of bacterial growth
Point-of-care device for urinary-tract infection testing
SEM of paper strip with E. coli.
Growth kinetics and species identification
Antimicrobial Resistance Profiling
We develop an integrated paper-based diagnostic platform that combines culture-enabled biosensing, tailored biochemical assays, and automated image-based analysis for the detection and characterization of bacterial infections, enabling the industrial-scale manufacturing of robust, mass-producible diagnostic tests.
Within a single, streamlined workflow, our approach enables the simultaneous determination of infection status, pathogen-specific signatures, bacterial load, and antimicrobial susceptibility. By translating culture-based amplification and phenotypic resistance testing into a miniaturized paper-based format, the platform preserves clinically relevant biological responses while significantly reducing assay complexity and infrastructure requirements.
Quantitative and semi-quantitative outputs are generated through automated image analysis, allowing standardized interpretation of spatiotemporal colorimetric changes even in complex biological matrices such as urine. The tight integration of biochemical assay design, controlled incubation, and digital readout supports decentralized diagnostics and effectively bridges established microbiological principles with near-patient and point-of-care applications.
Partners
| Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, TUM Hospital | Prof. Dr. Clarissa Prazeres da Costa Dr. Nina Wantia |
| Urologische Klinik und Poliklinik, TUM Hospital | PD Dr. Robert Taglauer |
| Hahnemühle GmbH | Dr. Horst Rosenbauer |
| BayPapier | Dr. Markus Erlewein |
| Medical Innovations GmbH | Christian Dorn |
Literature and Intellectual Property
Sabersky-Müssigbrodt H., Russell S., Wantia N., Hayden O. Rapid direct disk diffusion testing for antibiotic resistance in urinary tract infections: a bacterial concentration-adjusted approach. Microbiol Spectr 0:e00888-25 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.00888-25
Wali S., Sabersky-Müssigbrodt H., Alarcon-Mostajo S., Hayden O. Portable testing device for testing susceptibility of a biological probe to one or more bioactive substances. Patent No. WO2022268827A (2021).