Innovative Biological Assays

摘要

The Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN) in Singapore has patented new technologies that will help scientists carry out laboratory assays, diagnostics, and disease detection on the microscopic and molecular levels more efficiently and accurately. To test the prototypes and ultimately to commercialise the devices, it has been looking for potential partners and early adopters. Biological assay, an essential component of life science research, drug discovery, and diagnostics, costs a lot in terms of money and time as the process requires several rinsing steps between additions of reagents and the samples. lBN's DropArray adopts an approach to miniaturisation different from other microfluidic lab-on-chip methods. By integrating surface and materials chemistry and fluidics, the proprietary technology employs a patterned glass slide with hydrophobic and hydrophilic coating (Figure 1), instead of the conventional bulky plastic microtitre plate. The patterning generates a hydrophilic well that functions like a well in a plastic microtitre plate in the presence of specific immiscible liquid.