Invention by a Finnish start-up speeds up coronavirus testing
On the surface, the product developed by Xfold looks like regular glass. However, its unique nanocoating makes it a powerful signal booster that can be integrated into existing microscopes. The nanocoating makes the image produced by a microscope up to dozens of times more accurate, which also opens up new possibilities in the fight against the coronavirus epidemic.
鈥楢t the moment, coronavirus can be detected from a sample 3鈥5 days after exposure. Our technology reduces this time by up to 24 hours. It can also be used to observe the effect of medicines being studied more quickly, without any new equipment or work processes鈥, says Timo J盲ntti, CEO of Xfold Imaging.
Launched at Aalto Startup Center in 2019, Xfold has tested its technology with biomedical and virology experts at Aalto University, the University of Helsinki, Viikki Biocenter and Biomedicum in Meilahti, as well as with many international research groups in Japan and the United States.
鈥榃e have piloted our technology for investigating viruses with the University of Stanford, for example, and we have seen its potential for diagnosing coronavirus and testing related medicines. Our technology has opened up new avenues for researchers in the world of medicine鈥, J盲ntti says.
Xfold directly employs three people. Funded by Business Finland and Butterfly Ventures, among others, the company is now focusing entirely on potential technological solutions to help combat the coronavirus epidemic. According to J盲ntti, the greatest potential lies in poorer countries.
鈥極ur nanocoating can be added to almost any glass slides and sensors where samples are placed. It is a simple and affordable solution that could raise the diagnostic accuracy of health care laboratories in poorer countries to the level of Western countries鈥, J盲ntti says.
In the future, the nanocoated glass could also speed up the development of many other medicines. Traditionally, cells under examination have to be bleached in order to inspect them with a microscope and take pictures of them. However, the bleaching process shortens the lifetime of the cells, which makes it difficult to investigate the effects of chemical substances, such as medicines. With nanocoated glass, bleaching is not required so that a live cell can be observed much longer.
鈥榅fold imaging is an example of how technology can help us overcome this current crisis 鈥 and solve future ones. We at Aalto Startup Center want to be at the forefront with our contribution鈥, says Marika Paakkala, Head of Aalto Startup Center.
Contact:
Timo J盲ntti
CEO
Xfold Imagining
timo.jantti@xfoldimaging.com
tel. +358 (0)40 171 2255
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