Biomarker detection

and

have launched a research programme to establish e2v’s proprietary biosensor system Visucare, a novel detection technology for biomarkers using a single-antibody immunoassay.

The Visucare system will be used for protein quantification in point-of-care and near patient testing.

e2v biosensors and AbD Serotec began an initial project in September 2006, bringing together e2v’s novel platform technology and AbD’s recombinant antibody technology, HuCAL. AbD Serotec has since generated a series of modified recombinant antibodies suitable for e2v to perform feasibility studies showing proof of concept of the Visucare approach.

The core of the e2v technology is Surface Enhanced Resonance Raman Spectroscopy (SERRS), an electromagnetic surface-sensitive technique, which provides for the detection of single molecules binding to a silver surface. The key biomolecular construct of Visucare comprises three main components: a HuCAL-based antibody (which is immobilised on a silver surface), a reporter SERRS dye linked to peptide and a silver surface supporting the electromagnetic field.