CSO discusses the company’s MIAtek™ biosensing technology
Paris September 25, 2007- Magnisense, a developer of next generation bioassays for human and animal diagnostics, food safety and environmental protection, announces today that the company gives a talk on magnetic immunoassays at a symposium jointly organized by the European Science Foundation and the European Molecular Biology Organization. The symposium is entitled Biomagnetism and Magnetic Biosystems Based on Molecular Recognition Processes, and takes place at Sant Feliu de Guixols on Spain’s Costa Brava on 22-27 September 2007.
Magnisense CSO, Petr Nikitin, gives a talk on the company’s MIAtek™ technology. Magnetic particles (MP) have become very popular in scientific research as labels. They are stable unlike fluorescent labels and safe as compared to radioactive agents. MP can also be used in magnetic drug delivery as driving agents and as heating agents in hyperthermia.
The talk covers Magnisense’s development of a new biosensing method based on magnetic nanoparticles that serve as labels for biochemical reactions. The detection method uses the non-linear magnetization of superparamagnetic particles, a remarkable feature that allows a reliable and easy discrimination of very small quantities of the particles from surrounding paramagnetic materials.
The method allows detection of a relative change of non-linear magnetic susceptibility at the level of 10E-8 and counting magnetic nanoparticles in wide linear dynamic range up to 5 orders of magnitude. Several types of MP readout devices have been developed for detection of magnetic labels in various assay formats.
The method that has been developed gives a sensing area per detectable particle that is three orders of magnitude larger than that reported for the other techniques. The method is compatible with various immunoassay formats (biochip, strips, 3D immunofiltration, etc.) as well as with magnetic enrichment of antigens and immunoconcentration.
The method is much faster and more sensitive than ELISA, allows analysis of nontransparent liquids or suspensions and is very robust. The developed biosensing platforms can be used for medical diagnostics, point-of-care applications, food pathogen detection, and water analysis among other areas.
About Magnisense
Magnisense develops new generation of bioassays for human and animal diagnostics, food safety and environmental protection. These innovative immunoassays are based on superparamagnetic bead markers, which deliver the accuracy of laboratory testing with the ease of use of rapid test methods.
Exploiting a unique feature of superparamagnetic bead markers, Magnisense’s MIAtekTM technology provides true quantification of a large volume sample. The magnetic signal is free of interference from environmental factors, permitting a more sensitive and reproducible detection than possible with other surface-restricted approaches.
Magnisense is developing two test formats for different application areas:
MIAstrip™: Point of care testing with a single dose, producing objective, quantifiable and traceable results via a portable reader and offering markers for a number of diseases including avian flu, cardiac disease, tetanus, and bacterial, viral, parasitic or mycotic infections.
MIAflo™: Disposable cartridges for detection of bacterial contamination in food products, e.g. Listeria and Salmonella, or in water, e.g. Legionella, with a sensitivity that brings a significant reduction in testing time.
Founded in 2003, Magnisense has raised two rounds of financing for a total of EUR 6 million from Baring Vostok Capital Partners and private investors.
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