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Eindhoven, the Netherlands
– Already a world leader in near-patient settings,
Royal Philips Electronics has now developed a unique
biosensor technology which has the potential to
offer lab-quality immunoassay results at the point
of care. The company unveiled its initiative to
transform the rapid diagnosis sector of the in-vitro
diagnostics market at Medica 2008, where the 40th
World Forum for Medicine is taking place
(Düsseldorf, Germany, November 19 – 22).
Philips’ new Magnotech technology, which uses
magnetic nanoparticles to measure target molecules,
could bring complex in-vitro diagnostic tests out of
the laboratory and into decentralized settings,
including the patient’s bedside and at home. The
potential speed, ease of use, robustness and
accuracy of this new technology could address the
requirements of critical care environments by
speeding up the diagnosis of life-threatening
diseases. In addition, it could be suitable for
monitoring chronically ill patients at home.
“Magnotech opens the door for change. It may offer
the IVD industry the option of moving some tests out
of the lab,” explains Marcel van Kasteel, Vice
President and Chief Executive Officer of Philips
Handheld Immunoassays. “Long term, we envisage that
different testing stations - both conventional,
automated labs and these new, mobile handheld
systems - will be part of a diagnostic network,
using wired or wireless connectivity and
sophisticated healthcare informatics solutions to
store and assist in interpreting the data.”
Results from small sample volumes
Integrated into a disposable biosensor cartridge
that inserts into a hand-held analyzer, Magnotech
uses magnetic nanoparticles to measure target
molecules in very low (picomolar) concentrations in
blood or saliva - in just a few minutes. The
disposable cartridge automatically fills itself from
a single drop of blood or saliva. Once filled, no
other fluid movement is required. Currently,
measuring very low concentrations of biomarkers for
the diagnosis of disease (for example,
cardiovascular disease) requires laboratory
analysis, large sample volumes and a time-to-result
delay of between 30 and 60 minutes.
The Philips’ Magnotech handheld technology has the
potential to deliver:
- Small sample volume (fingerpick drop of
blood or saliva)
- Ease of use (potentially applicable for home
testing)
- Multi-analyte (several analytes can be
measured simultaneously, depending on the
application)
- Lab-quality sensitivity
- Speed (measurement in 1-5 minutes depending
on the application
The underlying technology
The magnetic nanoparticles are preloaded into the
cartridge during its manufacture and automatically
disperse into the sample as the cartridge fills with
saliva or blood. Coated with appropriate ligand
molecules, the nanoparticles quickly bind to target
molecules in the fluid sample.
An electromagnet situated under the cartridge brings
the magnetic nanoparticles, including the captured
target molecules, into contact with the active
detection surface of the biosensor in order to
achieve fast specific binding at this active
surface. A second magnetic field then pulls any
unbound magnetic nanoparticles away from the active
surface, enabling measurement of the remaining
target molecules. The measurement is done using an
optical technique based on frustrated total internal
reflection.
Philips has demonstrated proof-of-concept for its
new biosensor technology in a variety of biological
assays, including sandwich assays for the detection
of cardiac Troponin I (cTnI) and parathyroid hormone
(PTH), and inhibition assays to detect several
drugs-of-abuse molecules (amongst others, morphine).
Cardiac Troponin is a blood-borne protein that at
elevated levels provides a useful biomarker for the
diagnosis of myocardial infarction (heart attack).
The morphine assay represents the first test of the
technology in drugs-of-abuse testing.
During these proof-of-concept tests, Philips’
Magnotech technology was shown to speed up assays by
a factor of more than 100 when compared to simply
letting the nanoparticles diffuse to the sensor’s
active surface. Furthermore, the technology improves
ease of use by eliminating fluidic washing steps.
With cTnI, the assay successfully detected minute
(picomolar) concentrations in under five minutes.
First partner – saliva testing for drugs of abuse
The first collaboration agreement for the new
technology was also announced - with one of the
leading European companies in drugs of abuse
testing, Concateno plc, based in Abingdon, near
Oxford, UK. Concateno and Philips will deliver the
new handheld solution for drugs of abuse testing to
selected customers in 2009.
“This first collaboration is a means of
demonstrating the excellence and robustness of the
new technology with a company that is synonymous
with road-side testing and is already working
closely with government departments and police
forces. It will be the catalyst for them to grow and
expand their European and global markets. Magnotech
delivers them a highly accurate result in less than
two minutes from a saliva sample,” added Mr. van
Kasteel.
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