Biosensor chips for use in handheld devices for detecting biohazards in the field, developed by biosystems and agricultural engineering professor Evangelyn Alocilja. Photo: Kurt Stepnitz |
A new company formed around Michigan State
University nanotechnology
promises to move speedy detection of deadly pathogens and toxins from the laboratory
directly to the field.
Food contamination and other biohazards
present a growing public health concern, but laboratory analysis consumes
precious time. The company, nanoRETE, will develop and commercialize an
inexpensive test for handheld biosensors to detect a broad range of threats
such as Escherichia coli (E.coli), Salmonella, anthrax, and tuberculosis.
A significant leap forward in detection and
diagnostic technology, it uses novel nanoparticles with magnetic, polymeric,
and electrical properties developed by Evangelyn Alocilja, MSU professor of
biosystems and agricultural engineering and chief scientific officer of
nanoRETE.
“Our unique preparation, extraction and
detection protocol enables the entire process to be conducted in the field,
without significant training,” Alocilja said. “Results are generated in about
an hour from receipt of sample to final readout, quickly identifying
contaminants so that proper and prompt actions can be taken.”
The mobile technology comes at only a
fraction of the cost of the closest currently available competing technology,
company officials said.
“Although the technology originates from
research for biodefense applications, its potential reaches far beyond the
initial scope,” said Fred Beyerlein, CEO of nanoRETE. “Our X-MARK
platform-based technology has the ability to detect multiple pathogens or
toxins at one time, in a rapid, point-of-use, cost-effective manner. Imagine
the potential applications for food growers, packagers or sellers. Contaminated
food or water could be quickly identified, isolated, and resolved before
reaching the ultimate consumer—you or me.”
nanoRETE is backed by Michigan Accelerator
Fund I, a Grand Rapids, Mich., investment partnership focused on
Michigan-based early stage life science and technology companies.
“Our task was to find promising technologies,
identify strong management and support with investment dollars,” MAF-1 managing
director Dale Grogan said. “We reviewed literally hundreds of technologies
developed within MSU and determined that this particular technology best fit
our investment model. We are excited about nanoRETE’s future and hope this is
the first of many companies we help develop with MSU.”
MSU Technologies, the office that manages
technology transfer at MSU, was actively involved in licensing the technologies
to nanoRETE. In addition to other grants, the technologies earned funding from
the MSU Foundation to continue development across the financial “valley of
death” between research and commercialization.
“We have had great faith that Dr. Alocilja’s
work in nano-scale detection would be a very successful platform on which to
start a new company,” said Charles Hasemann, executive director of MSU
Technologies. “MAF-1 has been a great partner in building nanoRETE. With its
partnership and investment, we expect to move rapidly to a marketable product.”
