TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW
There are three primary components to NanoDetection Technology’s Biosensor Detection System – the Biochip, the detector, and the testing cartridge. NanoDetection Technology, Oak Ridge National Laboratory and collaborating partners have invested over $5 million in developing the Biochip, a microchip biosensor based on multiple phototransistor integrated circuits. At its most basic level, the Biochip detects light from various sources (e.g. fluorescence or luminescence emitted as a result of a chemical reaction caused by DNA hybridization or an antibody/antigen pairing) and converts the light into a digital signal.
Scanner vs. Integrated Biochip Results
The detector houses the Biochip, testing cartridge, laser, lenses and supporting electronics and software. The detector amplifies and manipulates the digital signal from the Biochip for various data management tools and reports the results in various, pre-specified formats.
The disposable testing cartridge has pre-loaded probes to detect the organisms of interest. A sample is introduced to the testing cartridge and inserted into the detector for detection by the Biochip. Fluorophore-labeled bioreceptors within the testing cartridge, when excited by the laser, fluoresce if ‘positive’ and are detected by the Biochip. All components of the system (detector, testing cartridge and computer) communicate via radio frequency (RF) technology, so the operator’s only decision is to insert the correct test cartridge for what is to be detected.
The 'Discrete' Advantage
This microchip is in reality an array of 25 photodiodes, each with associated power modifiers, integrated photodiode crystal, pre-amps, op-amps, and result reporting software self contained. Thus, each individual photodiode functions as a modified flourescence microscope
Competitive Advantages
While much attention is focused on microarray technology, macroarray technology actually is superior for specific applications because its larger surface area allows for greater sensitivity. Making it truly unique, NanoDetection Technology’s Biosensor Detection System is:
- Chemistry agnostic , where the same Biochip can conduct a plethora of tests simply by changing the testing cartridge, as opposed to changing biochips for each specific test or pathogen;
- Sample agnostic , where the biosensor can utilize most biological and environmental samples;
- Multiplexing Macroarray-based , allowing for detection of multiple organisms or pathogens at once;
- ‘Cowboy simple’ to use, delivering quantitative or qualitative data results in user-defined formats;
- RFID integrated , providing error-free, automated data capture, storage, distribution and encryption; and
- Fabricated cost-effectively , using industry-standard CMOS methods
Given that it is test and sample agnostic and allows for multiple, simultaneous tests, NanoDetection Technology’s Biosensor Detection System is a true platform technology.
