Register for free to
view the full innovation profile.
A novel optical biosensor technology based on a resonant imaging method. The technology consists of a proprietary sensor chip and a readout unit a simple cost-effective package.
About
Technology overview: Scientists at the University of York have developed a novel optical biosensor technology based on a resonant imaging method. The technology consists of a proprietary sensor chip and a readout unit a simple package. The disposable sensor chip is inserted into the readout unit after being dipped into a urine sample and the technology can detect multiple markers in parallel. Photonic biosensors present one of the most sensitive disease biomarker detection technologies available but a key issue is that expensive readout tools are often required, which has limited their widespread use in medical applications. Professor Thomas Krauss has developed a patent-protected photonic biosensor which benefits from label-free readout, thus enabling the direct analysis of biological samples. Biomarking binding is detected by a resonance shift and the readout can be transmitted wirelessly to a smartphone or laptop for interpretation and analysis. It has the potential to be operated autonomously and fully meets the requirements for diagnostics to be point-of-care, rapid, reliable and cost-effective. A hand-held 3D printed prototype of the photonic biosensor has been produced in which the biological sample is introduced via a fluidic cartridge.
Key Benefits
Our technology is urine-based, so non-invasive. It can detect multiple markers for kidney disease in parallel with high sensitivity so is able to provide a better diagnosis than competitors. It is hand-held, so can be used in a point-of-care setting, including by patients. Preliminary results indicate that measurements with other commonly-utilised clinical samples such as blood/serum will be possible. The key benefit of the technology is that it is intrinsically simple and robust without compromising performance. A market assessment of opportunities for this technology led to Acute Kidney Disease being identified as a lead opportunity due to the importance of diagnosis speed, the need for high sensitivity levels and the potential to carry out analysis in urine and blood. A Research and Markets report estimates the global Point of Care (PoC) technology market at £19.5bn in 2017 (almost 100% growth from £10.2bn in 2010) driven by factors such as ageing global population, increased access to healthcare, and a drive towards decentralisation of primary care. An external market assessment report identified kidney disease, especially Acute Kidney Injury (AKI), as a lead opportunity for our technology due to the high importance of diagnosis speed, excellent fit with our sensitivity levels and the potential to carry out analysis in urine and blood matrices. AKI is a serious and increasing drain on health services globally. Triaging of patients in the emergency department would be improved by accurate assessment of AKI, leading to reduced mortality. Kidney disease in general is also closely related to type II diabetes, which highlights potential markets in home healthcare or diagnostics in pharmacies. A recent review of diagnostics related to kidney disease concluded the need for rapid, PoC assays to assist with this triage of patients. Currently available products from do not provide the speed or ease of use required to fulfil the needs of emergency departments. The estimated incidence rate of AKI is 2-3,000 cases per million of population with a global burden of AKI estimated at 13.3 million cases per year.
Applications
Whilst this technology is currently being validated with acute kidney disease biomarkers, it is a true platform technology with wide clinical utility. It is also being investigated as a diagnostic tool for COVID-19 and other coronaviruses as well as with clinically validated biomarkers for coronary disorders.