New era for rapid, user-friendly diagnostic tests
A team of ORC scientists, led by Professor Robert Eason and Dr Collin Sones, are developing a paper-based diagnostics platform technology that uses laser processing to define channels, wells and micro-fluidic components within materials such as cellulose and other porous substrates.
In the area of AMR (Anti-Microbrial Resistance) the team has been investigating formation of the paper equivalent of micro-titer arrays for rapid colorimetric evaluation of the presence, or absence, of specific biomarkers within a sample and see this technology as leading towards the holy grail of rapid, cheap, disposable and user-friendly tests for all, for use at home, in the doctorââ¬â¢s surgery or within a clinical environment.
The team is presenting in the NAMRIP (Network for Anti-Microbial Resistance and Infection Prevention) conference today (December 14th 2015) and will introduce the technology and point the way towards tests for application in the field of AMR.
Collin explains, "Our LaserWrite technique is cheap, non‐contact, non‐lithographic and mask‐less, which is an ideal choice for rapid fabrication of custom‐designed lateral flow and microfluidic devices for realising single or multi-step analytical tests.
"Our vision is to enable rapid, low‐cost and commercial‐scale fabrication of fluidic devices with novel and improved functionalities for the users of our proprietary LaserWrite technique, thus allowing implementation of affordable and user‐friendly diagnostics for all."
Find out more about this technology and opportunities to help develop it commercially.