Advalytix: Pumping without pumps

The lab-on-a-chip is on the wish list of companies doing drug discovery and development, but so far it has not become a widespread reality. Advalytix AG believes that its use of surface acoustic waves can overcome existing obstacles to liquid handling on biochips.

The need for speed and cost-cutting in target identification and analysis has led to attempts to miniaturize high throughput screening technologies, but nanotechnology approaches have not yet delivered on their promises. Part of the problem is simply the laws of physics, according to CEO Jürgen Scriba. "The smaller probe volumes get, the more difficult it is to overcome surface forces. Forcing liquids through the ultra-thin channels of conventional biochips is like trying to suck honey through a straw, so it is quite difficult and costly to develop pumps and fittings for liquid handling in the micro- and nanoliter space," he said...