Toshiba Research Europe's Cambridge research laboratory has developed a label-free biosensor platform to shorten the biomolecular assay process.
The platform can combine multiple array experiments in a single instance on biomolecules such as antibodies and other proteins.
This versatility makes it ideal for rapid process optimisation in molecular screening applications.
Traditionally, array manufacturers have sought to increase throughput by increasing the number of data points (spots) on their arrays.
However, this does not take into consideration the number of actual array experiments that researchers need to carry out if different process conditions are required.
The Toshiba system provides enough data points in each array and can accommodate a range of process conditions, ensuring only one experiment needs to be performed.
The development is aimed at laboratory-based biotechnology research, but is expected to find applications in drug discovery and diagnostics and personalised medicine.
For example, it will provide reduced candidate screening times, cutting drug discovery costs.
The Toshiba system is particle-based instead of using a conventional fixed two-dimensional molecular array on a single surface.
A scalable fabrication process produces large numbers of microparticles, each bearing a machine-readable code and a gold-coated nanometric optical grating.
Each particle has a code-specific biomolecule immobilised on its surface.
The code on any given particle then identifies a molecule when it is under test.
The nanoscale grating allows simple optical probing of the interaction between biomolecules in solution with those immobilised on the surface.
A semi-automated reader system for the particles has also been developed, which can measure up to 50 particles a test.
The system could potentially be automated to increase the throughput so up to 1000 particles could be measured in a single test.
The platform has been developed in conjunction with the Institute of Biotechnology at the University of Cambridge.
