Development of a Quick Detection Method for Complex Immune Analytes, Campus Vienna Biocenter

Main Category: Immune System / Vaccines
Article Date: 24 Aug 2005 - 0:00 PDT

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An analysis method permitting the simultaneous quantification of numerous parameters in the immune system was recently presented at the Campus Vienna Biocenter. The technology, which has been developed by Bender MedSystems, is based upon the principle of a widespread analysis device and thus allows for rapid implementation in daily laboratory life. It thus succeeds in satisfying the growing demand at clinical and pharmaceutical organisations for increasingly efficient analysis methods at favourable costs.

The simultaneous determination of a high amount of different parameters in body fluids currently represents an important challenge in diagnosis.

Located at the Campus Vienna Biocenter, Bender MedSystems GmbH now meets this challenge with an efficient solution in the form of FlowCytomix technology, which permits simultaneous detection of up to ten analytes with a technology implemented in everyday laboratory life: the automatic sorting of fluorescence labelled cells. Individual cells are detected and differentiated on the basis of their size and fluorescence intensity by means of this technology, which is known as Flow Cytometry.

This new FlowCytomix product does not measure cells, however: it assesses the synthetic, fluorescent microspheres that have been coated with specific antibodies and added to the sample. These bind substances in body fluids, which can then be identified. Each of the maximum ten types of microspheres only carries antibodies for a single specific substance. After the separation of microspheres, the bound antibodies can be detected via a specific antibody or two-step reaction. The automatic analysis of the substance size and the dye intensity thus allow for the identification and quantification of the bound substance.

The Vice-President of R&D at Bender MedSystems, Dr. Irene Rech-Weichselbraun, comments on the practical significance of this method: "One of its uses is the measurement of multiple cytokines, which determines the individual's immune status. Cardiovascular marker proteins can also be measured efficiently and the risk of cardiovascular diseases can thus be estimated."

The intensive research environment at the Campus Vienna Biocenter offered significant support in the development of this detection method by Bender MedSystems. Close contact with researchers from academic and commercial research institutions has already allowed this technology to be ideally optimised for routine applications during its development, and the result has been a reduction in analysis time and work expenditure as well as lower sample amounts. The detection sensitivity and results are comparable with classic ELISAs, while the dynamic measuring scope was actually extended considerably.

About Bender MedSystems GmbH (August 2005):

The company deals with the development, production and worldwide distribution of biomedical research reagents and diagnostics. The range of products includes over 500 individual biomedical products such as monoclonal antibodies, enzyme immunoassays (ELISA), fluorescent bead immunoassays as well as the technology developed and patented by Bender MedSystems, Instant ELISATM and recombinant proteins, cytokines and receptors. The average annual growth of Bender MedSystems is clearly above that of the biomedical research market at 25%. The majority of turnover is generated outside Austria; exports amounting to 93%. The products are directly distributed in Austria, Germany and the USA, while the distribution of products in other countries is carried out by local distribution partners.

About the Campus Vienna Biocenter (August 2005):

The Campus Vienna Biocenter is one of the largest R&D clusters in Austria with approx. 1,000 scientists from 40 nations at 16 organisations. Academic departments (University of Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, subsumed in the Max F. Perutz Laboratories), private research institutes (IMP -Institute of Molecular Pathology) and institutes of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (IMBA - Institute of Molecular Biotechnology and GMI - Gregor Mendel-Institute) are also located here along with commercial R&D companies, service companies and training course centres (http://www.viennabiocenter.com).

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