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Technology breakthrough

Magnetic particles based assay is a robust technology that became a standard in modern chemical and biological diagnostics. However, the current particles handling systems present very limited capabilities. This is an important issue as the diagnostics test procedures are becoming more and more complex. On the other hand, "micro"-fluidic based technology is nowadays perceived as an emerging technology with great potential that can lead to more simple integration of complex testing procedures in an easy-to-use device. However, the manipulation of magnetic particles in a fluidic environment is facing a serious physical constraint: to be compatible with a "continuous" fluidic processing environment, the particles must be continuously exposed to a magnetic field. Under such conditions the particles will stick together and agglomerate, thereby losing their main advantage: the particle active / coated surface that is in contact with surrounding bio-chemical liquid will be drastically reduced which will seriously compromise the assay performance.

Magnetic Phase (MagPhase) technology from Spinomix is a new particles handling concept resolving in a unique way the particles agglomeration and therefore opens new perspectives in bio-assays in micro-fluidic environment.

technical pictures

(A) Microscope photograph of proprietary magnetic (200 nm) nanoparticles adapted to work with MagPhase™ technology, (B) Microfluidics chip 25 cm2 allowing the integration of 4 assays in parallel, (C) photograph of MagPhase "fog" structure of particles inside a microfluidics chip.

Technology key advantages

  • Very large and dynamic (moving) reaction surface - high sensitivity. Up to 10'000 times larger than the current golden standard.
  • Advection based technology - rapid processing time. No limitations by diffusion and thus strongly enhanced performances (due to the large mass transfer on the particle surfaces)
  • Easy-to-use and compact system - portable instrument . High degree of automation and integration achieved for multiple-functionalities within the micro-fluidic chip.

Lower cost technology - affordable. Simple concept integrating more cost effective and widely available components and lower diagnostic reagent consumption.