Spain: IK4 to license miniature bacterial infection diagnostic device

Licensing opportunity | Commercialisation opportunity

IK4 Research Technology Alliance members, the Basque technology centres Gaiker and Ikerlan, have patented a cost-effective micro device that can diagnose bacterial infections, including salmonella species, in less than an hour. The inventors are seeking to license the technology on an application basis, and are looking for commercial partners to invest in a micromanufacture and molcular diagnosis start-up.

The chip acts as a miniature laboratory – a lab on a chip. After the application of two syringes to the device, the chip carries out functions such as sample concentration, membrane rupture, DNA amplification, and then identifies.

The technology, which is portable and simple to use, will allow diagnoses of bacterial infections to take place directly in the doctor’s surgery. It has been clinically tested and relies on an optical reading system that can identify pathogens by detecting a fluorescent signal emitted during real time PCR (polymerase chain eeaction).

Ikerlan-IK4, financed by the EU’s Framework Programme 6, is leading the €2.9 million OPTOLABCARD project, coordinating the collaboration of nine biotech companies including Basque-based DTU-Nano, the Hospital de Donosti and Gaiker-IK4, developing and patenting the micromanufacture and molecular diagnosis technologies. Other participating companies are based in Germany, Austria, Denmark, Spain, Poland and Sweden.

Gaiker-IK4 has developed and adapted the chip’s microfulid system through biochemical engineering, and carried out clinical efficiency tests for salmonella diagnosis in colitis patients. The technology will also be validated for the detection of campylobacter infection in farm animals.