BioWings · Project

Lead-Free Smart Materials That Make Tiny Medical Devices Safer and Greener

healthPrototypeTRL 4Thin data (2/5)

Imagine the tiny sensors and actuators inside medical devices — most of them rely on materials containing lead, which is toxic. This project found a way to replace those toxic materials with cerium oxide, a safe compound that actually performs better while using less electricity. Think of it like swapping a gas engine for an electric motor that's both cleaner and more powerful. The team proved these new materials work on standard chip-manufacturing lines and built working prototypes for blood-sample preparation chips.

By the numbers

consortium partners

countries in consortium

industry partners in consortium

SMEs in consortium

43%

industry participation ratio

total project deliverables

progressive thin-film demonstrator releases

The business problem

What needed solving

Current medical micro-devices rely on lead-based actuator materials that are toxic, environmentally harmful, and increasingly restricted by regulation. This limits the development of next-generation biomedical implants, diagnostic chips, and miniaturized treatment devices. Manufacturers need a safe, high-performance replacement that works with existing chip fabrication technology.

The solution

What was built

The team developed biocompatible cerium oxide thin films with electrostrictive properties, progressing through 3 demo releases (initial, intermediate, final). They built proof-of-concept acoustofluidic chips for medical blood sample preparation, delivering 16 total project outputs.

Audience

Who needs this

Medical MEMS device manufacturers replacing lead-based actuatorsMEMS foundries seeking RoHS-compliant production linesPoint-of-care diagnostics companies building microfluidic blood analyzersOphthalmology device makers developing miniaturized implantsHearing aid and implant manufacturers needing biocompatible micro-actuators

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Medical Device Manufacturing

mid-size

Target: Companies producing diagnostic or implantable micro-devices

If you are a medical device manufacturer dealing with EU restrictions on lead-based components — this project developed biocompatible cerium oxide thin films that replace toxic lead-based actuators in MEMS devices. The materials are compatible with standard silicon fabrication lines, which means you can integrate them without rebuilding your production process. The consortium delivered 3 progressive demo releases of working thin films and validated them in acoustofluidic blood preparation chips.

Semiconductor & MEMS Foundries

enterprise

Target: Contract manufacturers of micro-electro-mechanical systems

If you are a MEMS foundry struggling with environmental compliance for lead-containing piezoelectric materials — this project demonstrated cerium oxide electrostrictors that are fully compatible with silicon-based technologies, metals, and polymers. That means you can offer a lead-free production line to medical clients without major retooling. The consortium included 3 industry partners across 5 countries who validated the manufacturing process.

In-Vitro Diagnostics

SME

Target: Companies developing point-of-care blood analysis devices

If you are a diagnostics company looking for better microfluidic sample preparation — this project built acoustofluidic chips that use electrostrictive actuators to manipulate blood samples on-chip. These actuators run at low power and are non-toxic, making them suitable for portable point-of-care devices. The team progressed from initial thin-film release through intermediate to final release across 16 total deliverables.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to integrate these materials into our production line?

Based on available project data, the cerium oxide materials are described as compatible with existing silicon-based manufacturing technologies, metals, and polymers. This suggests integration costs would be lower than a full retooling, but specific pricing or licensing terms are not disclosed in the public data.

Can this scale to industrial production volumes?

The project specifically focused on identifying manufacturing processes that work on biocompatible substrates and exploring the scale limits of the devices. The materials are compatible with standard silicon fabrication, which is inherently scalable. However, this was a research project (FET Open) and industrial-scale production has not yet been demonstrated.

What is the IP situation — can we license this technology?

The consortium of 7 partners across 5 countries likely holds shared IP on the cerium oxide electrostrictive materials and fabrication methods. Danmarks Tekniske Universitet coordinated the project. Licensing terms would need to be negotiated directly with the consortium partners.

Does this meet medical device regulatory requirements?

The materials are explicitly described as non-toxic and environmentally friendly, unlike current lead-based actuators. This positions them well for EU RoHS compliance and medical biocompatibility standards. However, specific regulatory certifications (e.g., ISO 10993) are not mentioned in the available project data.

How far along is the technology — is it ready to use?

The team delivered 3 progressive thin-film demonstrators (initial, intermediate, and final release) and built proof-of-concept acoustofluidic blood preparation chips. This places the technology at early prototype stage — validated in lab conditions but not yet piloted in clinical or industrial settings.

Can these materials work with our existing chip fabrication equipment?

Based on the project objective, the cerium oxide materials are described as fully compatible with silicon-based technologies and many other substrates including metals and polymers. This is one of the key advantages over existing actuator materials and suggests straightforward integration with standard MEMS fabrication equipment.

Consortium

Who built it

The BioWings consortium brings together 7 partners from 5 countries (Switzerland, Denmark, Israel, Italy, Sweden), with a strong 43% industry ratio — 3 industry partners including 2 SMEs alongside 4 universities. Danmarks Tekniske Universitet (DTU) in Denmark led the project. The mix of academic and industrial partners suggests the research was designed with manufacturing reality in mind, not just lab curiosity. For a business looking to adopt this technology, the presence of industrial partners means there are already companies in the consortium with practical experience translating these materials toward products. The geographic spread across Europe and Israel also means potential access to multiple market entry points.

DANMARKS TEKNISKE UNIVERSITETCoordinator · DK
LUNDS UNIVERSITETparticipant · SE
WEIZMANN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCEparticipant · IL
ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNEparticipant · CH
ACOUSORT ABparticipant · SE
DAY ONE SOCIETA A RESPONSABILITA LIMITATAparticipant · IT
PIEMACS SARLparticipant · CH

How to reach the team

Danmarks Tekniske Universitet (DTU), Denmark — reach out to the BioWings project lead through DTU's research partnerships office

Order a report on this consortium See DANMARKS TEKNISKE UNIVERSITET profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want an introduction to the BioWings team to discuss licensing or integration? SciTransfer can arrange a direct meeting with the right consortium partner for your needs.

Order a report on this topic More in Health & Biomedical