World's Most Comprehensive Nanoparticle System Launched

Online, April 23, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Hannover, Germany, and Christchurch, New Zealand, Thursday 22 April 2010 †Izon Science today launched the Variable Pressure Module (VPM) for its qNano and qViro instrument range. The extended capabilities now provide Izon with the world's most comprehensive nanoparticle analysis system.

The European launch was held at MicroNanoTec, a microsystems, nanotechnology and laser technology tradeshow, under the umbrella of world leading industrial showcase Hannover Messe.

"This is a real breakthrough for our research customers, delivering a quantum leap in capability. We've developed a very sophisticated platform that is easy to use and understand, but can also deliver detailed information about each particle. Users can use simple default analyses or process the stream of data to suit their own requirements." says Hans van der Voorn, the Executive Chairman of Izon.

Researchers using Izon's nanoparticle analysis system can measure and characterize virtually all particles including nanoparticles, viruses, bacteria and bioparticles such as exosomes and liposomes. Particle concentration, electrophoretic mobility, size and aggregation kinetics can all be analysed. Real time reaction monitoring allows users to design and test nanoparticle systems by analyzing the changes in particle properties as various modifications are applied. This is useful for bio-nano work, drug delivery research or development of diagnostic applications.

Izon's qNano and qViro instruments use tunable nanopores to measure individual particle properties as they cross the nanopore. Izon's invention of the Variable Pressure Module (VPM) provides precise control of liquid flow in addition to the standard electrophoretic operation of nanopores. The ability to vary pressure, electrophoretic force and nanopore size in real time, while monitoring the output is what provides the broad range of capabilities. These new analytical tools are expected to result in novel research in a number of nanoparticle related fields.

Charged and uncharged particles can now be detected. By finely controlling and balancing electrophoretic and pressure forces exerted on the particle, detailed mobility and charge information can be extracted in a wide range of pH and electrolyte environments.

Nano-sized particle concentrations in both biological and synthetic particle samples can now be measured quickly and easily. The extended concentration range enabled by the VPM allows measurement of sample concentrations down to approximately 10^4 particles per ml, depending on particle size. Izon expects that this method will become a globally adopted standard for particle concentration measurement.

Izon's instruments are used across a wide range of scientific fields including bionanotechnology, virology, vaccinology, microbiology, gene therapy, medical research, marine science, aquaculture, chemistry and nanoscience. Current projects include virus quantitation and analysis, oncolytic viruses, marine science, drug delivery systems, nanoparticle charge measurement, diagnostic applications using antibodies and nanoparticles, bioparticle analysis, and controlled dispensing of particles and biomolecules by count.

Van der Voorn says they are constantly finding new applications for their technology, largely driven by the measurements needs of their collaborators and customers.

"These include research on nanoparticle based drug delivery platforms to improve cancer therapy, marine virus research (viruses in the ocean number 10^5-10^6 per teaspoonful of seawater), photosynthetic picoplankton which are responsible for a large proportion of Earth's oxygen, vaccine research where viruses are fragmented and need to be accurately measured, and the relationship between freshwater viruses and pollution in lakes."

The qNano and qViro technology has been sold to research organisations around the world and is in use in over a dozen countries including Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Denmark, United Kingdom, Sweden, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and the USA.

Izon has a number of research collaborations with key institutions and individuals around the world using their technology to break new ground. Feedback from partners helps Izon's intensive R&D programme.

Collaboration partners include Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Oxford University, Johns Hopkins University, NIST, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of California Santa Cruz, and in New Zealand the MacDiarmid Institute, the University of Auckland, the University of Canterbury, NIWA, Cawthron Institute, Victoria University of Wellington, National Centre for Biosecurity and Infectious Diseases.

The US launch will be held at the 2010 BIO International Convention on 4 May in Chicago.