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speaker

Dr. Daniel CORZO

Position
Senior Scientist Project Coordinator at SILICON AUSTRIA LABS
Entity:
SILICON AUSTRIA LABS
Country:
Austria

Theme: A Sustainable Printed Platform for Sweat-Based Kidney Disease Monitoring

Short CV

Dr. Daniel Corzo is a Senior Scientist at Silicon Austria Labs, specializing in sustainable printed and flexible electronics with applications in healthcare. His research focuses on the development of environmentally friendly materials, solvent systems, and ink formulations for organic photovoltaics, OLEDs, and printed biosensors. By advancing green processing methods and recyclable device architectures, he aims to enable high-performance electronics that also reduce environmental impact. Dr. Corzo coordinates Horizon Europe and EIC-funded projects such as KERMIT, which develops sweat-based diagnostic patches for kidney disease, and also participates in initiatives like EECONE, focused on circular strategies in electronics. His work combines fundamental materials engineering with device integration, bridging laboratory innovation with industrial application. Trained as a mechanical engineer in Mexico and holding a PhD in Materials Science from KAUST, he has published in leading journals and actively contributes to IP development and technology transfer in sustainable electronics.

 

Abstract

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects over 100 million people in Europe and is projected to become the fifth leading cause of death by 2040. Current detection methods rely on laboratory-based blood tests, which are invasive and often inaccessible outside clinical settings. As a result, the disease frequently remains undiagnosed until it reaches advanced stages. The KERMIT project, funded by the Horizon Europe Pathfinder programme, is developing a skin-worn patch to non-invasively detect CKD biomarkers (Cystatin-C, creatinine, and urea) from sweat. KERMIT’s innovation lies in the integration of electrochemical biosensors, microfluidics, printed battery, and wireless communication alongside a single microchip resulting in sustainable single-use platform fabricated entirely through additive manufacturing.
The core of our approach relies on 3 principles, reduce material usage through simplification and miniaturization, include bio-based and biodegradable materials, and reduce the need of external electronic components. For the sensors, we formulated inks using MXenes and carbon-based nanoparticles to enhance binding sites for antibodies and aptamers resulting in high electrochemical performance. For the sweat collection microfluidic system, we selected bio-based polymers and optimized laser patterning and screen-printing parameters to enhance sweat transport, reduce protein adsorption, and simplify end-of life disposal. We produced a low-power iontophoresis system alongside a printed battery for on-demand sweat extraction, eliminating the need for external stimulation or power sources. By combining these material choices and design optimizations, KERMIT aims to shift CKD monitoring from episodic to continuous care, with the potential to improve patient outcomes, reduce costs, and pave the way for sustainable medical diagnostics.