IdentifySensors Biologics, an Ohio-based company specialising in digital diagnostics, has raised $20m to advance its software platform.
This platform uses semiconductors as rapid biosensors to identify gene sequences linked to infectious diseases and potentially various cancers from patient samples.
The company stated that its platform aims to transform molecular detection by reducing the need for centralised laboratories, allowing for real-time diagnostics at the point of care. This approach marks a shift from traditional methods to a more accessible, software-driven model.
Sensors are created with a proprietary graphene-based ink and integrated into test cartridges about the size of a smartphone. These cartridges can analyse different sample types based on the target pathogen or biomarker.
Each sensor is capable of identifying multiple pathogens or biomarkers from a single half-millilitre sample, including blood and saliva, said the company.
The test cartridge connects to a reusable Bluetooth reader that sends results to a mobile application and cloud-based algorithms for analysis. Users receive results via text message within minutes.
With manufacturing underway, IdentifySensors Biologics plans to submit its first US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) application later this year. Over the next three years, the company intends to develop rapid molecular tests for various common diseases detectable through genetic sequences, such as cancer.
IdentifySensors Biologics claimed that it is incorporating advancements in nanomaterial semiconductors, bioinformatics, and artificial intelligence (AI) into a portable software model.
Holding over 20 patents related to its technology and manufacturing processes, IdentifySensors Biologics is also seeking an additional $7.5m to expand production capabilities and develop further test targets.
