TOSHIBA Dramatically Advances Biosensor Technology

Main Category: Medical Devices / Diagnostics
Also Included In: Biology / Biochemistry;  Pharma Industry / Biotech Industry
Article Date: 17 Nov 2008 - 9:00 PST

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Cambridge Research Laboratory of Toshiba Research Europe Ltd has developed a novel, label-free biosensor platform, which is expected to significantly shorten the total biomolecular assay process, saving days or even weeks of research time. The platform is capable of combining multiple array experiments in one single instance on a wide variety of biomolecules such as antibodies and other proteins. This unique versatility makes it ideal for rapid process optimization in molecular screening applications.

The reduction in research time is made possible because the new system takes a novel approach to the assay process.

Traditionally, array manufacturers have sought to increase throughput by increasing the number of data points (spots) on their arrays. However, this does not take into consideration the number of actual array experiments that researchers need to carry out if different process conditions are required. The Toshiba system provides not only enough data points in each array, but delivers flexibility into the process to ensure only one experiment needs to be performed, as it can accommodate a wide range of process conditions.

Biosensor technology is widely used in pharmaceutical, medical and biotechnology research. The Toshiba development is aimed initially at laboratory-based biotechnology research, but is also expected to find applications in the fields of drug discovery and diagnostics and personalized medicine. For example, it will provide reduced candidate screening times leading to huge cost savings in drug discovery.

The unique and enhanced versatility of the Toshiba system derives from it being particle-based, rather than using a conventional fixed 2-dimensional molecular array on a single surface. Microparticles, each bearing a machine-readable code and a gold-coated nanometric optical grating, are produced in very large numbers via a low-cost, scalable fabrication process developed within the Cambridge Lab.

Each particle has a code-specific biomolecule immobilized on its surface. The code on any given particle then uniquely identifies a molecule when it is under test. The nanoscale grating allows simple optical probing of the interaction between biomolecules in solution with those immobilized on the surface.

A semi-automated reader system for the particles has also been developed, which is currently capable of measuring up to 50 particles in one single test. There is ample scope to fully automate the system and increase the throughput still higher, so that up to 1000 particles could be measured in a single test.

The platform has been developed in conjunction with the Institute of Biotechnology at the University of Cambridge. The institute's director, Professor Christopher Lowe, comments: "I am pleased to have been able to contribute to this Toshiba project. The technology is generic, relatively inexpensive per test and widely applicable to highly multiplexed analyses of diverse analytes. It should find substantial use in biomedical and other diagnostic systems, drug and biomarker discovery and, ultimately, in personalized medicine."

Personalized medicine is the concept of tailoring a patient's treatment for a particular disease to his or her genetic makeup. Even for relatively common diseases such as cancer and heart disease this might require the identification of complex panels of biomarkers, which may be small molecules, proteins, metabolites, or a host of other indicators. The Toshiba system would provide the ideal means to perform the necessary diagnostic tests to identify these biomarkers.

Dr Carl Norman, Principal Research Scientist at Toshiba Cambridge Research Labs, added: "Nanobiotechnology will play an increasingly significant role in driving the next generation of medical and pharmaceutical discovery. The flexibility of our new platform could help organizations significantly shorten their research cycles, and help cut time to market of medicines for a wide range of diseases."

About the Institute of Biotechnology The Institute of Biotechnology was founded in 1988 as a postgraduate research organisation. It aims to create opportunities at the interface of several scientific disciplines and integrate other business, teaching and training activities into an entrepreneurial culture that promotes a seamless transition for exploitable research from bench to marketplace. It has been involved in establishing a number of spin-off companies and has been honoured with a Queen's Award for Technological Achievement (1996) and a Queen's Award for Further and Higher Education (2007) for its commercial and entrepreneurial activities. http://www.biot.cam.ac.uk

About Toshiba

Toshiba is a world leader and innovator in pioneering high technology, a diversified manufacturer and marketer of advanced electronic and electrical products spanning information & communications equipment and systems; digital consumer products; electronic devices and components; power systems, including nuclear energy; industrial and social infrastructure systems; and home appliances.

Toshiba was founded in 1875, and today operates a global network of more than 740 companies, with 198,000 employees worldwide and annual sales surpassing US$76 billion. Visit Toshiba's web site at http://www.toshiba.co.jp/index.htm

About Toshiba Research Europe Ltd

Toshiba Corporation is fully committed to the research and development of future technologies. This commitment has resulted in Toshiba having a record number of world firsts, including the first laptop PC (1985), the first single chip MPEG4 videophone LSI (1998) and the first DVD player (Oct. 1996). Over the 3 years to end March 2010, the Corporation anticipates a total global R&D expenditure of JPY1,290bn.

Toshiba Corporation established its first overseas research centre in 1991, with the opening of Toshiba Cambridge Research Centre Ltd in the UK. This was renamed Toshiba Research Europe Ltd (TREL) in August 1998, when a new telecommunications laboratory in Bristol was launched. TREL now has two research laboratories in the UK; the Cambridge Research Laboratory (CRL) in Cambridge, and Telecommunications Research Laboratory (TRL) in Bristol.

Toshiba Corporation