NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen

With the Biological Development Center, the NMI, together with the Werner Siemens Imaging Center at the University of Tübingen, creates the foundation for the rapid and efficient commercialization of biotechnologically produced proteins, known as biologicals. For the research and development departments of academia and industry—especially for SMEs and start-ups in the biotech sector—the BioDevCenter provides straightforward access to research opportunities.

Biologicals are also becoming increasingly important in the field of medical devices, such as for coating implants, improving wound healing, or drug absorption.

Microelectrode arrays (MEAs) enable direct signal exchange between electrically active cells and electronic systems, as well as the observation of communication between cells. This provides insight into the functioning of individual cells, cell networks, and more complex systems. The properties and potential side effects of drugs can be investigated quickly and with high significance. This is particularly utilized in electrophysiology at the NMI, where colleagues from both fields continuously benefit from their collaboration.

At the NMI, the next generation is already in use: mesh MEAs. Since cells grow on both sides of a mesh, they allow better insights into cell networks without the need to injure them.

A lighthouse project for peering into the smallest of scales: In 2018, the **Nanoanalytics Center (NanoZ)** was established at the NMI. This research and service center for high-resolution nanoanalytics provides highly specialized analytical equipment for material, material science, and product development. It serves as a regional hub for innovative companies with material science questions and product ideas, benefiting from access to the equipment and the materials science expertise at the NMI. These devices enable material analyses down to the atomic level.

The instrumental equipment for sample preparation is also at the highest level, not least to effectively utilize the potential of the high-tech devices, for example through cryo-preparation.

The strict EU regulations on medical devices (MDR) and in-vitro diagnostics (IVDR) currently pose challenges, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). At the MDR & IVDR Competence Center MIK, these companies are supported with experience, infrastructure, and services.

The MIK's mission is to accompany companies from the idea stage to the certification of their innovative products. This includes the development of new analytical and testing methods as well as the interpretation of results. Thus, the particularly innovation-driven SMEs in the region benefit from the expertise at the NMI.

An organ on a chip? What sounds futuristic opens up major opportunities in biomedical research. This innovative technology makes it possible to observe the effects of active substances or toxins on human tissues. At the same time, it has the potential to reduce the number of animal experiments. Researchers at the NMI repeatedly achieve outstanding advancements in this field.

The Organ-on-Chip (OoC) systems consist of tiny plastic chambers into which human tissues are introduced and supplied with an artificial blood substitute—but they can also be brought into contact with vaccines, drugs, or toxins. Their reactions allow reliable conclusions to be drawn about how the corresponding cells will respond in the human body.