"Lab-on-a-chip" breakthrough for on-site diagnostics

A Californian based company has produced the world’s first disposable photonic lab-on-a-chip solution for next-generation water and food analysis, chemical and biological agent detection, and point-of-care diagnostics. The PhotonicLab Platform from Bioident Technology Inc. enables rapid in-vitro diagnostics, chemical and biological threat detection, and environmental testing without the need for off-site lab analysis. This offers greater mobility and sensitivity compared to existing biological and chemical assays and delivers a cost-effective disposable lab-on-a-chip solution by eliminating the need for complex and expensive readout systems.

To produce the device Bioident utilized the latest breakthroughs in nanotechnology and leveraged its own existing PhotonicLab Platform – a process which uses organic semiconductor based technology to print light emitting and detecting capabilities directly on to any surface - including glass - enabling on-chip analysis and diagnostics producing real-time results. This technology employs a process developed by Bioident’s parent company, Austria’s Nanoident Technologies AG, which uses an inkjet printer to print electronic circuits on a variety of surfaces, such as plastic foil or glass. This makes it possible to apply photosensitive semiconductors directly onto a lab-on-a-chip.

The development of the lab-on-a-chip has resulted in Bioident being announced a co-winner in the semiconductor category for the seventh annual Wall Street Journal contest for Technology Innovation, as well as being named the recipient of the 2007 Frost & Sullivan Enabling Technology of the Year Award for its superior expertise in the lab-on-a-chip platform. A reflection of not only the importance of the breakthrough but also the times we live in.

For further info visit Bioident.