This is how Abeldas Favretsa, CEO of the Lithuanian company 'Integrated Optics' describes the substrate that contains nanotechnology components and enables the identification of the chemical composition of samples through the measurement of Raman scattering for medical diagnostic applications, food and water safety and homeland defense
One drop, that's what needs to be attached to the sampling system developed by a company Integrated Optics ('Integrated Optics') of Lithuania to diagnose its content. This is how Evaldas Pabrėza, CEO of the Lithuanian 'Integrated Optics' company, describes one of the applications of devices that integrate nanotechnology systems for the benefit of medical diagnosis and food safety testing.
"We are manufacturers of lasers for biomedical and chemical diagnostic uses. What is special about our products, which are 7 times more compressed than similar devices of any competitor in the world, is thanks to unique production methods and the way we integrate the systems together. Our system is POINT OF CARE, and it is used to diagnose diseases, for food safety tests. The company developed the miniature laser source known as Matchbox."
"The use of lasers in the field of life sciences has always been expensive to purchase and difficult to maintain. Our startup company offers the most compact CW laser source in the world. Development began in 2012. Two partners under 30 built their first laser 'in the kitchen', raised funds from venture capital funds and now built a factory. The founders believe that they have reached the turning point where lasers will become a consumer product: they are cheap, easy to use, compact and durable. The market is expected to flourish soon. "
"Our latest development is a disposable substrate containing sensors that may change the way infectious diseases are diagnosed through label-free identification. Cheap materials such as glass (soda-lime glass) in combination with advanced nanotechnological methods become a particularly sensitive substrate (SERS - Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering), capable of detecting concentrations on the nanomolar scale."
"One of the applications we are working on is the detection of jaundice, using Raman spectroscopy. For this we use a device made of glass on which a nano structure is affixed. The tested substance - a drop of blood or serum is placed on the nanostructure. After attaching the sample, we vaporize the sample using the laser and measure the Raman scattering signals that come out of it. In the analysis of the signals we look for a series of peaks, which represent molecular vibrations of the material, a sort of unique fingerprint for each material. Specifically for jaundice we add a piece of viral DNA to the sample. If there is a virus in the sample, its DNA binds to the DNA on the device, and then we get a change in signal. According to the characteristic change of these diseases, we can know if this virus is present in the blood sample. We are now developing the ability to diagnose several types of jaundice instead of the separate test for each type that is carried out in laboratories today."
Besides viral tests, what applications can your lasers be used for?
Favretz: "We also develop sensors for homeland security applications, food monitoring, water monitoring.
Do you have contact with companies in Israel?
"In Israel, experiments are being conducted with all the advanced methods of spectroscopy, detection and analysis. I always knew that if we had something innovative, it would already be known to Israeli scientists. I know that their background and their knowledge are strong and we can collaborate on developments. In terms of sales in Israel, we have several partners, but the sale is done in each project individually without representation."
