The following project started in 2026.

With  the  Nano-Argovia  project  Nano-BioNest,  researchers  want  to  gain  a  better understanding of the conditions in  which  biological  active  substances  such  as  antibodies,  therapeutic  prote-ins,  RNA  or  DNA  can  cluster  into  ag-gregates.   The   interdisciplinary   team   plans  to  develop  a  model  for  explaining and predicting aggregate formation and the effect of excipients.

Some  of  the  most  successful  and  highest-volume therapies in medicine are active pharmaceutical ingredients that are not chemically “assembled” in the laboratory but rather produced using living cells. For example, these “biologicals” include  antibodies,  therapeutic  proteins  and short chains of RNA and DNA. One problem with their application is that successful treatment often calls for high concentrations — which, in some cases, leads to the formation of tiny clumps (nanoaggregates) or increases the viscosity of the liquid. This causes problems in terms of the stability of the product and makes it harder to administer subcutaneously. As  part  of  the  Nano-Argovia  project  NanoBioNest,  an  interdisciplinary  team  led by Dr. Jinghui Luo (Paul Scherrer Institute PSI) is now combining various experimental techniques (e.g. smallangle X-ray scattering  (SAXS))  with  computeraided  tools (e.g. AlphaFold) in order to investigate the structure and aggregation behavior of biologicals in the presence of various active substances. In particular, this work focuses  on  cyclodextrin  derivatives  —  ring-shaped molecules that, as additives, are intended to prevent aggregation. As part of this two-year project, the researchers plan to combine experiments and  AI-assisted  predictions  in  order  to  develop a predictable model that explains the formation of aggregates and the effect of adjuvants. They will use a monoclonal antibody and an RNA-based drug as model substances.

Collaboration between:

Paul Scherrer Institut

Hochschule für Life Sciences FHNW

Excelsus Structural Solutions (Swiss) AG, Villigen

“We are excited to contribute, as an industrial partner, to the NanoBioNest project supported by the Nano-Argovia program. This project is expected to advance the structural characterization of high-concentration biologics and accelerate the identification of novel excipients, eventually creating tangible value for the biopharma industry.” 

Dr. Thibaud Stoll, Excelsus Structural Solutions (Swiss) AG

In the Nano-Argovia project NanoDiLi, an interdisciplinary team is developing an innovative platform based on atomic force microscopy in order to carry out nanomechanical analyses of three-dimensional liver microtissues. The researchers hope to use this platform to study the development of chronic liver diseases and to test known active substances for the treatment of scarring and fatty liver disease in the lab.

Chronic liver disease is a global health problem. Affecting some 1.5 billion people worldwide, it is responsible for some 4% of all deaths annually. The disease often develops gradually — it can start with a fatty liver before progressing to scarring and ultimately cirrhosis.

Various interactions play a role
Existing models, such as two-dimensional cell cultures, are unable to sufficiently map the complex interactions between the various participating liver cells. These interactions are, however, key to understanding how the disease progresses and to developing methods to treat it. Modern 3D cell cultures could provide a better solution, as they mimic natural liver biology. Now, researchers working on the Nano-Argovia project NanoDiLi under the leadership of Dr. Joachim Köser (FHNW School of Life Sciences) have set themselves the goal of developing an innovative platform for the nanomechanical analysis of liver microtissues. To this end, the researchers combine a special measuring instrument based on atomic force microscopy with a novel sample holder developed within the project that allows nondestructive and sequential examination of multiple microtissues.

Comparison with known biomarkers
As part of the project, the researchers compare the nanomechanical measurements of healthy and diseased liver tissue with classical biochemical markers. They also produce the mixed cellular microtissue in order to study disease development in depth and test known active substances for the treatment of fibrosis and fatty liver. By providing user-friendly hardware and robust protocols, the aim is to make nanomechanical analyses accessible to research laboratories and industry. In the long term, the project could help to reduce animal experimentation in liver research and to promote new applications in tumor biology and tissue engineering.

Collaboration between:

Hochschule für Life Sciences FHNW

Hochschule für Technik und Umwelt FHNW

Artidis AG, Basel

“NanoDiLi will support ARTIDIS in evaluating AFM-based nanomechanical measurements as complementary readouts for advanced in vitro liver models. By comparing mechanical signals with established biological markers, the project will assess their relevance for disease modelling and preclinical testing, while supporting future translational development with liver-model experts and selected industry stakeholders.” 

Dr. Marko Loparic, ARTIDIS AG

In the Nano-Argovia project NANO-SAW, researchers are developing a tiny, high-precision oscillator based on nanoscale surface waves. This is intended to serve as a frequency reference for digital highspeed systems.

Synchronization is vital
High-precision oscillators are at the heart of modern electronics. They provide accurate timing and synchronization in computer centers, AI systems, networks and many other applications where precise clock signals are vital — for example, in order to transfer data without errors, synchronize calculations or use energy efficiently. The oscillator that the interdisciplinary team plans to build in the Nano-Argovia project NANOSAW will serve as a proof of concept for a new way of generating vibrations based on “Rayleigh waves” — surface acoustic waves (SAWs) that travel along the surface of a material. These waves are produced in a thin layer of aluminum nitride (AlN), a piezoelectric material that is particularly good at converting mechanical stresses into electrical signals and vice versa. This aluminum nitride layer is applied to a substrate using a special coating technique known as highpower impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS). The substrate can then be integrated directly into existing microchips — which is vital for miniaturization and applications in modern electronic devices. Fine, comblike electrode structures are attached to the aluminum nitride surface in order to apply electrical voltages that stimulate mechanical Rayleigh waves, which then spread across the surface. A second electrode structure detects the incoming waves and converts them back into electrical signals. These signals are then amplified and returned by a feedback circuit in order to produce continuous oscillation — in other words, the oscillator “vibrates” in a stable manner at a specific frequency.

Fast, energy-saving and stable
When it comes to manufacturing, one priority for the interdisciplinary team led by Professor Mathieu Coustans (FHNW School of Engineering and Environment) is for the aluminum nitride layers to have a thickness of less than 500 nanometers. The researchers are also keen to achieve optimum crystallographic alignment in order to improve the acoustic characteristics. The oscillator should start very quickly (under 100 milliseconds), consume very little energy and produce an extremely stable clock signal. This project will help to drive advances in energy-efficient information and communication technology with nanoscale materials and nanofabricated components as well as integration at system level.

Collaboration between:

Hochschule für Life Sciences FHNW

Paul Scherrer Institut PSI

Micro Crystal AG

“For Micro Crystal AG, NANO-SAW is an opportunity to bring our industrial expertise in high-precision timing components into a strong research collaboration. The project addresses key requirements for future oscillator technologies: accuracy, stability, compactness, low power consumption, and compatibility with modern microelectronics. We also expect valuable collateral insights for our broader technology development.” 

Dr. Thierry Hessler, Micro Crystal AG

In the Nano-Argovia project X-BASE, researchers plan to develop a new, scalable and efficient method for the production of X-ray diffraction gratings. This is with a view to meeting global demand for precision optical components used in cutting-edge research.

X-ray diffraction gratings are high-precision optical components that play an indispensable role in X-ray analysis in scientific research. These gratings consist of a regular arrangement of lines or more complex patterns on a reflecting substrate. They use the principle of diffraction: When X-ray light strikes structures with spacings of a similar size to its wavelength (typically in the nanometer range), the light is deflected in various directions — just as a prism breaks visible light down into the colors of the spectrum. This effect can be used to split X-ray light up by wavelength and select a single X-ray “color” or to analyze the radiation spectrum emitted from a sample.

Technically challenging 

The production of X-ray diffraction gratings is challenging from a technical perspective because the performance is affected by even the slightest deviations in the grating structure. There are only a small number of manufacturers, particularly when it comes to the production of “blazed gratings,” whose oblique, sawtooth structures diffract X-ray light with very high efficiency. In the Nano-Argovia project X-BASE, the team led by Dr. Christian David (Paul Scherrer Institute PSI) now wants to develop an alternative production method for diffraction gratings of this kind. The new method produces these fine structures using electron-beam lithography and a new oblique deposition technique, in which the material is evapor-deposited at a specific angle to produce the desired sawtooth shape. This approach may prove more cost-effective and flexible than established methods. Planned to run for two years, the project aims to optimize the grating structures using state-of-the-art thin-film and surface measurement technology in order to produce prototypes that meet the requirements of synchrotron and free electron laser sources.

Collaboration  between:

Paul Scherrer Institut

Hochschule für Life Sciences FHNW

XRnanotech AG

“The demand for advanced X-ray optics is rapidly growing with the expansion of synchrotron and free-electron laser facilities worldwide. At XRnanotech, we see X-BASE as a key step toward scalable production technologies that can meet this demand and strengthen Europe’s position in high-precision nanofabrication.” 

Dr. Florian Döring, XRnanotech AG

In the Nano-Argovia project µAlmond, researchers are exploring fundamental questions regarding the formation of calcium carbonate (CaCO3 ) crystals in water systems. As part of this work, they are studying the mechanism of action of an electric antifouling system and analyzing the significance of various crystal shapes for water quality and health.

Positive and negative effects of calcium
On the one hand, hard water delivers valuable minerals such as magnesium and calcium that are essential for human beings. On the other hand, calcium carbonate deposits in water pipes for tap or cooling water lead to problems including blocked pipes, greater biofilm formation and corrosion. Removing these layers of deposits is a mechanically intensive process and requires limescale removal products. The water can be preventively treated using chemicals or ion exchangers, but these are harmful to the environment and must also be properly disposed of. Moreover, they completely strip drinking water of essential calcium ions, which must then be re-added. Electric antifouling (EAF) systems offer a sustainable alternative. These devices emit electric pulses into water pipes in order to reduce limescale deposits without removing water-borne minerals. Although EAF systems are already widespread and have been the subject of numerous studies, their mechanism of action is yet to be fully explored.

New calcium carbonate microstructure discovered
The interdisciplinary team led by Dr. Sina Saxer (FHNW School of Life Sciences) has demonstrated a reduction in limescale deposits in a feasibility study with EAF devices from project partner Hydro Service Schweiz AG. The researchers have also identified a previously unknown, almond-shaped microstructure of calcium carbonate, which they call µAlmonds. In the Nano-Argovia project of the same name, µAlmond, the team will now use X-ray absorption microspectroscopy to analyze this new microstructure in detail and to investigate, in real time, how it forms under the influence of electric fields when EAF systems are used. The researchers are also examining how various forms of calcium carbonate (calcite, aragonite, µAlmonds) can be absorbed by human intestinal cells. Should µAlmonds exhibit higher bioavailability, they could also be of interest as dietary supplements or biomaterials. With a planned duration of two years, the project aims to clarify the mechanism of action of EAF systems and, by doing so, to drive the development of tailor-made solutions for homes and industry. At the same time, the findings in relation to µAlmonds could pave the way for innovative approaches in nutrition science and materials research.

Collaboration between:

Hochschule für Life Sciences FHNW

Paul Scherrer Institut PSI

Hydro Service Schweiz AG

“When it comes to the precise further development of EAF device series and to boosting long-term customer confidence in this technology, we need a reliable and scientifically sound understanding of how electric pulses from EAF devices can modify the crystal structure of calcium carbonate in a targeted manner and therefore influence surface adhesion.”

Federico Bussmann, Hydro Services Schweiz AG