What needs to be done to transform the detection, diagnosis and surveillance of infectious diseases around the world and to develop a device that can quickly produce accurate and reliable results?
In the face of the global spread of COVID-19, there is an urgent need for better first-line screening methods to curb the spread of microbial pathogens. The methods used today to determine fever by measuring forehead temperature cannot detect asymptomatic or pre-symptom infections, nor can they distinguish this deadly novel coronavirus from less threatening respiratory diseases. Other diagnostic tests are either inaccurate or return results too slowly.
As a pioneering biotechnology company, Pinpoint Science boldly envisions using a novel solution that, based on a breakthrough concept, uses a portable nanosensor technology diagnostic device to identify pathogens in less than a minute. But to commercialize its patented technology and bring life-saving technology concepts to market, Pinpoint needs to work with strategic partners with deep domain knowledge and manufacturing expertise. To that end, Pinpoint chose to work with Analog Devices' innovation center, Analog Garage, inc., and ADI's Hillview manufacturing process engineering team to realize the vision.
Overview Company
Pinpoint Science, a startup focused on early-stage medical diagnostics, hopes to change the way infectious diseases are detected, diagnosed, and monitored through new nano-sensors of instant diagnostics, quickly delivering highly accurate medical test results.
challenge
Deliver pathogen test results in less than a minute with low-cost, easy-to-use, portable readers and disposable test kits, without relying on laboratories, amplification techniques, or sample preparation. Develop biochemical techniques for sensor functionalization and test proofs of concept.
target
Rapidly bring to market an accurate, life-saving diagnostic platform for nanosensor technology and advance a more efficient global general-screening approach for detecting microbial pathogen arrays.
Infections with probiotic microbial pathogens, including viruses and bacteria, kill millions of people each year. In the last century, the fight against infectious diseases has had many successes, including the eradication of smallpox and the near-elimination of measles, mumps and tetanus. However, viral infectious diseases and epidemics are still occurring, affecting people's livelihoods and economies in various countries.
How do we keep people safe in the ongoing fight to control and eliminate deadly infectious diseases? A line of general screens is a solution. However, the infectious disease detection methods currently in use take 15 minutes to 4 hours to produce results, which is too slow to control or contain the rapid spread of the epidemic. Moreover, today's tests are often inaccurate or expensive, relying on laboratories, trained technicians, and complex sample preparation processes.
Current diagnosis
• 15 minutes to 4 hours
• General screening is not possible
Today's symptom screening
• Only fever and cough are checked
• Asymptomatic patients cannot be detected
• Cannot be distinguished from respiratory illness
A different type of COVID-19 testing method is needed to screen a population of a certain size. So there is a need for a test that can detect antigens, and this requires a major technological breakthrough.
Pinpoint: An enabler of a breakthrough change
Pinpoint Science, a Northern California-based healthcare technology startup, envisions a more efficient solution for instant detection and diagnostics: an easy-to-use, portable reader and plug-in detection box with advanced nanosensors. As a change agent, this diagnostic device can quickly detect biological indicators such as antibodies and antigens, and quickly identify specific microbial pathogens that cause disease and death. The reader is equipped with a disposable targeted pathogen detection kit that can produce accurate results on the spot without relying on laboratories, medical technicians, or sample preparation.
The technical principles behind Pinpoint's nanosensor technology diagnostic device were developed by Pinpoint's chief scientist, Dr. Nader Pourmand, a professor in the department of biomolecular engineering at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Lisa Diamond, CEO of Pinpoint, said: "We started this study years ago long before the COVID-19 outbreak. "We use nanosensor-based detection to target influenza viruses in humans and bluetongue viruses in animals, a diagnosis that uses antibodies or synthetic molecules to detect and measure specific proteins to determine whether they are infected. We believe that the impact of our diagnostic platform on humanity is not limited to COVID-19, but has a longer-term value. Today, Pinpoint is working to commercialize the technology, which originally grew out of a functionalized nano-patch developed by Dr. Nader Pourmand.
Pinpoint and ADI work hand in hand
In early 2019, Pinpoint began looking to partner with Analog Devices and its innovation center, Analog Garage, to help turn the vision into reality. Analog Garage, along with ADI's Hillview manufacturing process engineering team, assisted Pinpoint in perfecting and bringing instant rapid pathogen detection technology to market.
Pinpoint Science chose ADI because of its unique MEMS manufacturing capabilities and sensor development capabilities, as well as its willingness to invest in emerging technologies. ADI's precision data converters are also ideally suited for Pinpoint's electrochemical platform. Pinpoint's portable reader will also be based on one of these products: the ADuCM355 chemical sensing platform.
Early assessment phase
ADI modified the production process to customize the sensors based on the startup's design. Pinpoint will conduct tests to determine the sensor's performance and, if the results are satisfactory, transform it into a functionalized nanoporous biosensor.
Nimrode Moreshet, Head of Emerging Practices at Analog Devices, said: "Analog Devices believe pinpoint's new nanosensor technology diagnostic devices have broad application prospects, particularly in the field of fast, low-cost pathogen detection, and we look forward to working with Pinpoint to bring this breakthrough technology to market." ”
A new company heading into uncharted territory
ADI first discovered Pinpoint Science through SkyDeck, an early incubation program at the University of California, Berkeley. Pinpoint Science operates two phases at SkyDeck and is guided and supported by this renowned academic acceleration platform. ADI is an early investor in SkyDeck, a global startup hub recognized for launching new companies to the world.
Lisa Diamond, CEO of Pinpoint Science, said: "Our collaboration means we can start to realize the potential of this breakthrough technology. We are still in the early stages, but if our technical concepts are confirmed in proof-of-testing, then our platform will be desperately needed around the world, especially in the context of the spread of COVID-19. Pinpoint's technology is expected to meet the urgent need to detect COVID-19 around the world. ”
Pinpoint's vision: To implement pathogen detection simply, flexibly, and quickly
Pinpoint wanted to build a common platform that would insert a disposable test kit into a reader to detect specific pathogens in samples of blood, saliva or nasal secretions. The nanometer sensors in the detection kit can detect specific markers of infectious diseases: viral proteins, bacterial proteins, and host antibodies. Results can be reached in less than a minute.
Pinpoint's novel biosensor technology enables labelless electrical detection of specific biomolecules with high accuracy and low cost for use in areas such as instant diagnosis, epidemiological screening, animal health and food safety.
"We are developing a low-cost, high-speed and portable screening and detection device that can be rapidly deployed as an important weapon in the fight against the threat of global epidemic diseases." —Lisa Diamond, CEO of Pinpoint Science
PINPOINT Nanosensor Technology Diagnostic Devices on Human Impact
Today, as the pandemic spreads around the world, Pinpoint Science is highly concerned about testing for COVID-19. While significant technical risks and design challenges remain, a reliable collaboration between Pinpoint and ADI can help reduce the time and cost of detecting infectious diseases globally, while improving personalized patient care and saving more lives.