e2v biosensors, a subsidiary of e2v technologies plc, and AbD Serotec, the division for research and diagnostic antibodies of MorphoSys AG, today launched a research programme to establish e2v’s proprietary biosensor system Visucare™, a novel detection technology for biomarkers using a single-antibody immunoassay. The Visucare™ system will be used for protein quantification in point of care and near patient testing.

e2v biosensors and AbD Serotec began an initial project in September 2006, bringing together e2v’s novel platform technology and AbD’s leading recombinant antibody technology, HuCAL. AbD Serotec has since generated a series of modified recombinant antibodies suitable for e2v to perform feasibility studies showing proof-of-concept of the VisucareTM approach.

Lying at the heart of the e2v technology is Surface Enhanced Resonance Raman Spectroscopy (SERRS), an electromagnetic surface sensitive technique, which provides for the detection of single molecules binding to a silver surface. The key biomolecular construct of Visucare™ comprises three main components: A HuCAL-based antibody, a reporter SERRS dye linked to peptide, and a silver surface supporting the electromagnetic field. The HuCAL based antibody is immobilised on a silver surface.

The SERRS dye peptide is bound to the HuCAL antibody and thus held outside the electromagnetic field. In the presence of a protein biomarker the SERRS dye peptide is displaced, allowing it to bind directly to the silver surface within the electromagnetic field and ultimately giving rise to the SERRS signal.

Unlike existing technologies, Visucare™ does not need an antibody pair to detect the respective biomarker. Instead it uses a single antibody in a displacement format and thus does not require any washing or incubation steps, enabling a simple to use system with results in less than 10 minutes. Additionally, the system allows the monitoring of biomarkers inaccessible to other systems and at very low levels of detection. e2v biosensors has secured substantial intellectual property through 2 issued, and a further 11 pending, patent families.

Dr. Paul Rodgers, CEO of e2v biosensors comments, “The Visucare™ system offers several unique advantages over other systems available for biomarker point of care analysis, with its multiplex capability, high sensitivity and high specificity. We are currently developing a cardiac point of care panel as well as other unique biomarker applications. AbD Serotec’s ability to provide highly selective recombinant antibodies capable of binding both protein and derived peptides and genetically engineered to display surface binding activity has been crucial for establishing the system.” Adding “we are now looking for a strategic partner to fully exploit the commercial potential of the Visucare™ approach in a broad range of point of care and pathology applications.”

Dr. Achim Knappik, Head of R&D at AbD Serotec comments. “Today’s news further exemplifies the unique flexibility of our HuCAL antibody platform and the broad range of potential applications which we can target. e2v’s approach to establish a novel type of biosensor is highly innovative and very interesting both scientifically and commercially. We are delighted to provide e2v with our HuCAL GOLD technology as the source of a key biomolecular construct for the e2v biosensor system”