RE: STMicro3 Nov 2021 07:40
Life Sciences
In November 2020, the Life Sciences team secured a grant from Innovate UK, the UK's innovation agency, for a life sciences project to develop a heavy metal-free quantum dot testing kit for the accurate and rapid visual detection of Covid-19. The project builds on Nanoco's existing capabilities in utilising quantum dots conjugated with antibodies as a diagnostic tool in the detection of cancer (VIVODOTS® nanoparticles). The project specifically focuses on antibodies for Covid-19. However, as is the case with our other materials, our goal is to create a platform technology that is applicable to other pathogens and potential future variants of Covid-19. The project therefore remains relevant despite many other tests now being available on the market for Covid-19.
The project is scheduled to complete in May 2022 with a working prototype. Good progress has been made to date with VIVODOTS® conjugated with the appropriate antibodies successfully detecting the presence of the target pathogen at the required level of sensitivity to proceed to the next stage of the project. We are now working with a device partner to create a functional device which will then be subject to industrial design to create the functioning prototype.