NANOWIRE BIOSENSOR CHIPS

There are several advantages to nanowire biosensor chips over other available technologies:

Standard Current Platforms Vista’s Nanowire Platforms
Sensitivity  
Detection of Proteins
 
High quality ELISA assays can reproducibly detect high picogram, low nanogram range. NW’s can reproducibly detect femtogram ml-1 range. NW’s provide 1000-10,000 fold improvement. NW’s use 10-4 less antibody. Sample sizes much smaller.
Detection of mRNA
 
2-4 x 107 mRNA molecules without amplification. NW’s can detect hybridization of a single molecule without amplification.

Sample Labeling/Staining  
Most commercial assay for biomarkers require staining, radio-labeling, incorporation of fluorescent molecules or use of colorimetric substrates. NO LABELING REQUIRED.
The target molecule is covalently modified and/or unrecoverable. NW’s detect target molecules without labeling, modification or destruction any form. Traditional labeling steps introduce variability. Sample usable for subsequent assay.

Real-Time Measurement: Kinetics  
NOT POSSIBLE. NW’s continuously report target molecule concentration in flowing sample.
Current bioassays are limited to ‘snapshots’ of biological processes.
NW’s may also be used to monitor dynamic changes in target proteins and metabolites in tissue cultures.
ELISA-based assays do not provide information about AB-AG Affinity or On-Off rates.
NW’s provide information about affinity and Off-rates in antibody-based assays.

Simultaneous, multiplex measurement of transcripts & proteins in the same sample 
NOT POSSIBLE.
Since NW’s require no sample labeling, they may be used to detect proteins and gene transcripts in the same reaction.

Label-Free Enzyme Inhibition
 
Typically requires chromogenic substrates. NW’s allow real-time enzyme binding or inhibition with low femtogram quantities and no labeling.