MURFREESBORO — Middle
Tennessee State University and Tecport Optics of Orlando, Florida, have entered
into a licensing agreement to commercialize the university’s biosensor
technology as a medical diagnostic tool for research labs and point-of-care
health professionals.
“The biosensor
technology, which can be applied in the development of a variety of new and
innovative sensing equipment, has the capability of revolutionizing medical
diagnostics,” said MTSU professor Bill Robertson, the inventor and a member of
the Department of Physics and Astronomy faculty.
An interdisciplinary team from MTSU including Drs.
Robertson, Steve Wright (biology), and Andrienne Friedli (chemistry) developed
the new technology with support from the National Science Foundation and the
Department of Homeland Security.
“The growth of personalized medicine creates a pressing
need for faster and better ways of diagnosing diseases and individual responses
to pharmaceutical treatment,” he added. “In addition, drug discovery can be
shortened when a rapid (and) more accurate way of screening for biological
changes can be used in the process.”
The technology is based on specially designed multilayers, alternating
thin films of silicon dioxide and titanium dioxide of precise
thicknesses coated on a glass microscope slide. These multilayers support
electromagnetic waves that travel along the surface and detect extremely small
changes, such as the addition of one layer of protein or antibody molecules on
slide surfaces.
On appropriately prepared slides, such changes could
indicate the identifiable markers of specific diseases.
“With the increase of disease-resistant bacteria and new
strains of viruses killing over 700,000 people worldwide each year, speeding up
the drug discovery process is an urgent priority,” Robertson said.
Dr. Nabil El-Hag, Tecport’s vice chairman and architect of
the strategic relationship, said, “The long-term goal is to use biosensor
technology as a mainstay in point-of-care medical diagnostics, not only in
doctors’ offices and clinics, but in the local drugstore. This represents an opportunity to participate
in the fast-growing $40 billion-plus medical diagnostic market.
“In Third World countries, where access to health care is
often inaccessible, our biosensor technology could speed up and reduce the cost
of diagnosis and treatment,” he said.
Tecport’s “cold plasma” thin film technology allows
affordable fabrication of the multilayers, so that they can be used as a
disposable supply for a biosensor.
About Tecport
Founded in 1977, Tecport designs, manufacturers, sells and
services state-of-the-art thin film vacuum deposition systems to customers
across the globe. Tecport builds reliable, efficient and flexible coating
systems customized to meet the technical specifications of a variety of
industries. Both suppliers and customers recognize Tecport for its product
quality, customer service and technical innovations. For more information,
visit www.tecportoptics.com.
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