MIP Publication - A Novel Assay Format as an Alternative to ELISA: MINA Test for Biotin

30.9.19

In order to make more robust and fully abiotic assays, synthetic alternatives to antibodies and enzymes have been developed, including molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles (nanoMIPs). Researchers at Imperial College, London, University of Leicester, Leicester, and MIP Diagnostics Ltd. have recently collaborated on developing a proposed ELISA alternative using biotin specific nanoMIPs as both binders and reporters.

> Read More

Lisa Thurston Joins MIP Diagnostics to Support North America Partners

10.09.2019

In response to market demands MIP Diagnostics Ltd. is delighted to announce the appointment of Lisa Thurston, MS, MBA as US Sales and Marketing Director to better support our North America partners and build upon our burgeoning international customer base. 

>Read More

New Publication – MIPs specific for glycated haemoglobin in competitive pseudo-ELISA assays

Scientists at MIP Diagnostics Ltd., along with researchers at University of Leicester and Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, have successfully developed nanostructured molecularly imprinted polymers (nanoMIPs) with high affinity and high selectivity for glycated haemoglobin. Their findings have recently been published in Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical (IF 6.4)

>Read More

Stephane Argivier joins MIP Diagnostics as Chief Licensing Officer

23.05.2019

MIP Diagnostics Ltd. is delighted to announce the appointment of Stephane Argivier as Chief Licensing Officer to further support the delivery of our ambitious growth strategy.

>Read More

Spotlight On… Stephane Argivier

Our new Chief Licensing Officer

23.05.2019

Steohane has just joined MIP Diagnostics as Chief Licensing Officer.

>Read More

The potential of nanoMIPs!

16.05.2019

Synthesis and Application of Ion‐Imprinted Nanoparticles in Electrochemical Sensors for Copper (II) Determination - article published on Researchgate.net.

>Read More

April Newsletter

29.04.2019

Read the latest news and updates from MIP Diagnostics in our April newsletter.

>Read More

Spotlight On… Alan Thomson

director of diagnostics development AT MIP DIAGNOSTICS

25.04.2019

Alan leads our diagnostic development work, with a focus on the in house licensing projects and is our Spotlight On employee this month.

>Read More

Nanosight Results

24.04.2019

Recent sample results for some in-house nanoMIPs produced against a small (circa 800MW) molecule template using Malvern Nanosight 300 - demonstrating good control over nanoMIP particle size, with very few nanoMIPs bigger or stuck together.

>Read More

March Newsletter

03.04.2019

Read the latest news and updates from MIP Diagnostics in our March newsletter.

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MIP Diagnostics expand patent portfolio as part of their impressive growth plan

27.03.19

MIP Diagnostics Ltd today announces the grant of a patent for the Preparation of Molecularly Imprinted Polymers by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

>Read More

Spotlight On… Dr Joanna Czulak

25.03.19

Introducing another member of our talented team in our Spotlight On feature. This month meet Dr Joanna Czulak.

>Read More

Using smart nanopolymers to kill old cells

13.03.2019

NanoMIPs developed by MIP Diagnostics in collaboration with the University of Leicester have demonstrated their ability to target senescent cells, both in vitro and vivo. Such nanoMIPs  were made to recognise one of the proteins abundant in on the surface of old cells and then tagged with a fluorescent molecule to aid in their detection. Also, these nanoMIPs were loaded with senolytic drugs and were able to selectively kill senescent cells.

>Read More

Most Innovative Biotechnology Firm

04.03.2019

We are so pleased to have been awarded 2019's Most Innovative Biotechnology Firm - United Kingdom by CV Magazine's Corporate Excellence Awards!

>Read More

February Newsletter

28.02.2019

Read the latest news and updates from MIP Diagnostics in our February newsletter.

Article published in Chemical Communications

21.02.2019

NanoMIPs to fight bacterial infection in the world of decreasing effectiveness of antibiotics

>Read More

Spotlight On - Dr Andy Lakey

senior scientist at MIP diagnostics

18.02.2019

Find out more about our exceptional team, in our Spotlight On feature. This month meet Dr Andy Lakey.

>Read More

MIP Diagnostics Spotted at SLAS2019

9 TOP TECHNOLOGIES FROM THE EXHIBITION FLOOR

14.02.2019

SelectScience editors reflect on the most exciting technologies showcased at the 2019 Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening conference and we are mentioned for our new Epitope Mapping Service.

>Read More

MIPs in Space!

07.02.2019

MIPs go Stratospheric!

A visit to the stratosphere demonstrates the exceptional robustness of MIPs which retain their function on return to earth. This was debuted at our Seminar in September 2018.

>Read More

Paper published in ChemNanoMat

17.12.2018

A Novel Assay Format as an Alternative to ELISA: MINA Test for Biotin – Is a published paper in ChemNanoMat with contributions made by Joanna Czulak of MIP Diagnostics, alongside colleagues at The University of Leicester and Imperial College London.

>Read More

Paper published in the Journal of Advanced Materials Society

12.12.2018

Novel assay format for proteins based on magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles—detection of pepsin is a published paper in the Journal of Chinese Advanced Materials Society, with contributions made by Joanna Czulak, Antonio Guerreiro and Francesco Canfarotta from MIP Diagnostics, alongside colleagues at The University of Leicester.

>Read More

MIP Diagnostics Seminar

27.09.2018

Join us for a day of presentations, networking, and discussions with key opinion leaders in the field of imprinted polymers and sensors.

> Read More

OBN Awards Nomination

10.08.2018

MIP Diagnostics are proud to be shortlisted as finalists at the OBN Awards in October.

> Read More

Andy Lakey Joins as Senior Scientist

06.08.2018

Dr Andrew Lakey brings his experience of developing point of care immunodiagnostics platforms to MIP Diagnostics, as a Senior Scientist.

> Read More

New MIP Diagnostics Marketing Material

17.07.2018

MIP Diagnostics have produced a new flyer featuring MIP technology and applications.

> Download

New Director of Diagnostics Development

04.06.2018

MIP Diagnostics Ltd is pleased to announce that Alan Thomson has joined the company to lead the diagnostics development work.

> Read More

Move to Colworth Park

01.05.2018

MIP Diagnostics Ltd has moved from the founding laboratory at the University of Leicester, to new labs and offices at Colworth Park in Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire.

> Read More

MIP New Investment

01.05.2018

A Midlands-based life sciences company which develops ‘plastic antibodies’ has closed a £1.5m Series A funding round supported by Mercia Fund Managers and a number of private investors.

> Press Release

Jim Reid Appointed Chairman

05.11.2016

To further support its plans for expansion, MIP Diagnostics has appointed Jim Reid as chair to provide valuable commercial expertise.

> Read More

MIP Publication - A Novel Assay Format as an Alternative to ELISA: MINA Test for Biotin

30.9.19

The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is a commonly used analytical biochemistry assay to detect and measure the presence of a ligand in a liquid sample using a ligand specific binding reagent.  Once bound a second reagent linked to an enzyme is applied and the enzyme's substrate is added, producing a detectable signal.  These assays, however, suffer from various limitations: the most common reagents (antibodies) often denature under non-physiological conditions, and ELISA requires multiple steps including washing, blocking, and addition of enzyme substrates where inconsistencies can occur.

In order to make more robust and fully abiotic assays, synthetic alternatives to antibodies and enzymes have been developed, including molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles (nanoMIPs). Researchers at Imperial College, London, University of Leicester, Leicester, and MIP Diagnostics Ltd. have recently collaborated on developing a proposed ELISA alternative using biotin specific nanoMIPs as both binders and reporters. Super paramagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) conjugated to biotin (BIONs) were attracted to magnetic insert within a microtiter plate well. The target molecules immobilized on BIONs were shielded from the view of the plate reader by the hollow magnetic inserts, as were the fluorescent nanoMIPs bound to the immobilized target molecules. Addition of free target molecules displaced the bound target molecules, releasing the fluorescent nanoMIPs. The increase in fluorescence was then observed using direct spectroscopic analysis, with no washing steps required.

Comparisons of antibody and nanoMIP capacity are explored, along with effects of pH and compounds that typically affect biotin binding such as mercaptoethanol and saccharides and the effect of long term storage on the assay.  If you are interested in additional information on this publication “A Novel Assay Format as an Alternative to ELISA: MINA Test for Biotin” by Stanislav S. Piletsky, Anthony E. G. Cass, Elena V. Piletska, Joanna Czulak, and Sergey A. Piletsky in ChemNanoMat contact us below.

Contact Us

Please complete the form below for More information on “A Novel Assay Format as an Alternative to ELISA: MINA Test for Biotin”

Lisa Thurston Joins MIP Diagnostics to Support North America Partners

10.09.2019

In response to market demands MIP Diagnostics Ltd. is delighted to announce the appointment of Lisa Thurston, MS, MBA as US Sales and Marketing Director to better support our North America partners and build upon our burgeoning international customer base. 

Lisa is located in the New England area and will bring her scientific and commercial expertise to continue to drive the adoption of MIPs through both sales and marketing initiatives for the North American market, she has extensive experience with new and evolving technologies and building global strategic, business development, and services offerings initiatives.  

Chief Business Officer of MIP Diagnostics Ltd., Stephane Argivier, said: "We are delighted to welcome Lisa to the team.  Our North American customers will enjoy working with her as much as we do and it will allow us to deliver an even better customer experience for all.” 

New Publication – MIPs specific for glycated haemoglobin in competitive pseudo-ELISA assays

Scientists at MIP Diagnostics Ltd., along with researchers at University of Leicester and Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, have successfully developed nanostructured molecularly imprinted polymers (nanoMIPs) with high affinity and high selectivity for glycated haemoglobin. Their findings have recently been published in Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical (IF 6.4)

Glycated haemoglobin is a form of haemoglobin that is usually chemically linked to the sugar glucose. The formation of the sugar-haemoglobin linkage indicates the presence of excessive sugar in the bloodstream, often indicative of diabetes. MIPs specific for glycated haemoglobin would allow for the development of alternative quantitative sensors and diagnostic assays.

A solid-phase imprinting method proprietary to MIP Diagnostics Ltd. was used to prepare particles imprinted for glycated haemoglobin by using the whole protein as a template. Harvested nanoMIPs were then treated through a negative selection process to obtain high affinity MIPs able to recognize glycated haemoglobin but without any cross-reactivity towards non-glycated haemoglobin. Both bulk and selected particles were tested in competitive pseudo-ELISA assays with haemoglobin and glycated haemoglobin as free targets. In both cases, a linear response was observed from 10-3 nM to 1 nM. After negative selection, MIPs showed no response to non-glycated haemoglobin together with an improvement of the linear range of the assay. It also allowed quantification of glycated haemoglobin in human serum with recoveries above 95 %.

If you are interested in reading the article by Katarzyna Smolinska-Kempisty, Antonio Guerreiro, Joanna Czulak, and Sergey Piletsky it can be found at the link below:

Negative selection of MIPs to create high specificity ligands for glycated haemoglobin. 

If you are interested in creating MIPs or nanoMIPS for your own assays contact MIP Diagnostics Ltd. below or at enquiries@mip-dx.com.

Contact Us

Stephane Argivier joins MIP Diagnostics as Chief Licensing Officer

23.05.2019

MIP Diagnostics Ltd. is delighted to announce the appointment of Stephane Argivier as Chief Licensing Officer to further support the delivery of our ambitious growth strategy.

He will bring his commercial and technical expertise to drive the adoption of MIPs in various market applications. This will include areas such as Bioprocessing for Therapeutics, Food and Beverage; Oil & Gas and Fundamental Research.

Stephane has over 22 years of experience in the Life Sciences and Diagnostics sectors with a track record of delivering fast growth with business entities ranging from start-ups to multinationals. He has won several business accolades in previous roles such as The Queen’s Awards for International Trade and for Innovation.

CEO of MIP Diagnostics Ltd., Dr Adrian Kinkaid, said: “I am delighted to have Stephane join the team and to be working with him to deliver the ambitious commercial plans for this remarkable technology.”

Chairman of MIP Diagnostics Ltd., Jim Reid, said: "We are delighted to welcome Stephane to the company. It is a testament to the progress MIP is making as a business that we can attract people of Stephane's undoubted quality. We look forward to major developments in our international activities and to progressing with the industrialisation of our strong technology portfolio."

Stephane Argivier said: "I am honoured and excited to be joining MIP as the new Chief Licensing Officer. I look forward to working with the team to help customers achieve their goals and push new boundaries by adopting this new and exciting technology.”

Spotlight on - Stephane Argivier

stephane IS chief licensing officer AT MIP DIAGNOSTICS

20.05.19

What gets you out of bed in the morning?

Passion for what I do.

How would you describe your day job to a child?

Turning inventions into real life improvements

What is your biggest achievement to date – personal or professional?

Took an idea that resolved a customer problem from concept, to reality, to a market leading position and winning a Queen’s Award for Innovation in the process.

What three words would you use to describe your role?

Making things happen!

If you could switch jobs with someone, who would it be?

Charles Dowding (No Dig inventor) on my day off!

What is on your wish list for your next five years here?

To help the business grow and for the MIP technology to become widely adopted and make a positive impact in areas such as Bioprocessing for Therapeutics, Food and Beverage; Security, Oil & Gas and Fundamental Research.

What do you like most about your job?

Learning from customers and colleagues on daily basis.

Given a chance, who would you like to be for a day?

Jacques Cousteau when he was exploring the oceans.

What’s your favourite line from a film?

Pulp Fiction: “I'm Winston Wolfe. I solve problems.” “Toluca Lake. It's thirty minutes away. I'll be there in ten.”

What is your guilty pleasure?

Grow your own!

The potential of nanoMIPs!

Synthesis and Application of Ion‐Imprinted Nanoparticles in Electrochemical Sensors for Copper (II) Determination

16.05.19

Another example of the potential of nanoMIPs: a study led by the University of Salento demonstrated that nanoMIPs can be successfully integrated in electrochemical sensors and used for determination of copper ions via differential pulse voltammetry. This sensor based ion imprinted polymers nanoparticles (nanoIIPs) showed a limit of detection of 74 pM, with excellent selectivity over other ions, which makes it potentially suitable for environmental monitoring of heavy metals and food control.

This work is presented in Researchgate.net, with contributions made by Francesco Canfarotta from MIP Diagnostics, alongside colleagues at the University of Leicester.

Spotlight on - Alan Thomson

Alan is Director of Diagnostics Development at MIP Diagnostics

25.04.19

What gets you out of bed in the morning?

The alarm clock going off with Chris Hawkins on the radio!!

How would you describe your day job to a child?

Nowadays it’s as much about helping great people do amazing things in the laboratory as it is about attempting those things myself!

What is your biggest achievement to date – personal or professional?

Taking an idea from invention in the lab to a patent and ultimately to the marketplace or starting and building a new company from employee number one.

What does a typical day look like for you?

No two days are quite the same, but there’s always plenty of coffee involved! Sometimes it’s the easiest job in the world: when we have great team members who are amazingly talented and motivated, any challenge seems possible. Other times it’s the most frustrating: science rarely runs exactly to plan, especially first time…

What three words would you use to describe your role?

Varied, challenging, rewarding

If you could switch jobs with someone, who would it be?

Simon Gallup!!

What is on your wish list for your next five years here?

To see MIP-Dx grow into a significant player in supplying the diagnostics and sensors industry with unique, world-class, binding molecules – ultimately that will be achieved by ensuring our team grow and develop.

What do you like most about your job?

Seeing our team deliver successful projects to customers

What is your motto or personal mantra?

There’s no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothes…

What’s the most recent app you’ve downloaded but are yet to use?

BBC Sounds

Given a chance, who would you like to be for a day?

Geraint Thomas on a Tour de France stage

What’s your favourite line from a film?

"What we've got here is failure to communicate. Some men you just can't reach. So, you get what we had here last week, which is the way he wants it. . . well, he gets it. I don't like it any more than you men." Cool Hand Luke, 1967

What is your guilty pleasure?

Star Wars in all forms (films, cartoons, toys, books, graphic novels etc.)

MIP Diagnostics granted US patent on Preparation of Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (MIPs)

27.03.19

MIP Diagnostics Ltd today announces the grant of a patent for the Preparation of Molecularly Imprinted Polymers by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

NanoMIPs are, as the name suggests, nanostructured polymer particles typically containing a single binding site for their target. MIPs are a proven alternative to antibodies and offer many advantages over antibodies. They can also be fused to solid substrates, such as sensor surfaces, if required. Our proprietary technology includes a novel method to make nanoMIPs offering partners new IP opportunities.

The robust nature of MIPs and nanoMIPs make them ideal reagents for a wide range of applications including point-of-care diagnostics and in field-based testing. As they are synthetic polymers, MIPs can withstand harsh chemical environments such as extremes of pH, seawater, or high concentrations of organic solvents. In addition, MIPs have a very long shelf life, even at room temperature, which provides significant economic benefits and makes them ideal when cold chain environments cannot be guaranteed.

Overview of the Process Patented

US 10,189,934 B2 describes a polymerization process, typically a living radical polymerisation process, that is carried out in the presence of the template or target molecule, to produce molecularly imprinted polymers ("MIPs"). It is controlled so that the products are quite small so that they are soluble or form colloidal suspensions and typically contain just one imprint of, or binding site for, the target. The template substances, immobilized on the solid support, can often be re-used, further improving the efficiency of the process.

Application of the invention

MIPs have broad application as affinity reagents in; diagnostics, sensing, purification, separation and nalysis, and have been successfully created and deployed against all major target classes including peptides, proteins and other macromolecular structures, as well as smaller chemical entities such as drugs, their metabolites and commonly used biochemical species such as enzyme cofactors.

MIPs are synthesized in a laboratory and can be created in days. They are more cost-effective and much more stable than antibodies and other biologically-based affinity reagents, with a longer shelf-life and can be used in conditions where antibodies are unable to function.

Commenting on the patent, CEO Adrian Kinkaid said;        

“Being granted this patent is a great boost for the business and demonstrates the uniqueness of our platform process which enables us to produce the best MIPs in the world, specifically tailored for a given application. It compliments and enhances our growth strategy particularly in the key USA market and allows us to push our plan for incorporation of MIPs in many key products in a wide range of fields including Oil & Gas exploration, Bioprocessing and Clinical diagnostics. We are continuing to expand rapidly and expect to grow our client base further, a client base which already comprises a number of global pharmaceutical companies, blue-chip clients from other fields and many biotech businesses.” 

Spotlight On….. Dr Joanna Czulak

Joanna is a Senior Scientist at MIP Diagnostics

25.03.19

What gets you out of bed in the morning?

Food

How would you describe your day job to a child?

I am playing all day with a magical Play-doh, that I shape into superheros who fight diseases. Imagine that each disease has a different shape, like stomach pain can look like a triangle. I build a shape out of Play-doh around the triangle and put some magical ingredients inside, so later that magical Play-doh always recognises the shape of the stomach pain and can fight it like a superhero does, to make a World better place.

What is your biggest achievement to date – personal or professional?

Understanding my self-worth on both professional and personal level.

What does a typical day look like for you?

6:30 am <Food, coffee, work, work, work, food, coffee, work, work, work, food, food, food, sudoku>10:00 pm

What three words would you use to describe your role?

Developing, solving and managing

If you could switch jobs with someone, who would it be?

I cannot think of anyone, I really enjoy my job

What is on your wish list for your next five years here?

Hopefully still being in Europe 😉

Learn and develop more

Create a product that will change the World (for better)

Speak Spanish

Start learning Spanish…

What do you like most about your job?

Feeling of achievement after solving a problem or developing a successful project, people and atmosphere at work

What is your motto or personal mantra?

“Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end. Just wait for it”

“Hard work will always pay-off”

What’s the most recent app you’ve downloaded but are yet to use?

I have just updated my phone and so far all the app I have downloaded I am using regularly. I am yet to download an app that I will never use…probably a language learning app😉

Given a chance, who would you like to be for a day?

If I had a knowledge and the experience I would like to be a neurosurgeon. Being a surgeon and being able to work with one of the most amazing parts in our bodies was always my dream.

What is your guilty pleasure?

Food

Using smart nanopolymers to kill old cells

NanoMIPs developed by MIP Diagnostics in collaboration with the University of Leicester have demonstrated their ability to target senescent cells, both in vitro and vivo. Such nanoMIPs  were made to recognise one of the proteins abundant in on the surface of old cells and then tagged with a fluorescent molecule to aid in their detection. Also, these nanoMIPs were loaded with senolytic drugs and were able to selectively kill senescent cells.

These advancements, published online in Nanoscale Horizons (2019, DOI: 10.1039/C8NH00473K), have been possible thanks to a multidisciplinary team lead by Dr Salvador Macip (Department of Molecular and Cell Biology), Dr Francesco Canfarotta (MIP Diagnostics) and professor Sergey Piletsky (Chemistry Department)

This is the first targeted nanoparticle designed against old cells and has the potential to be used as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool in humans. Furthermore, thanks to the generic nature of the proprietary imprinting process used in this research, MIP Diagnostics can offer the possibility to design custom-made nanoMIPs against other clinically relevant targets.

‘Detecting and targeting senescent cells using molecularly imprinted nanoparticles’ is available to read online now.

NanoMIPs to fight bacterial infection in the world of decreasing effectiveness of antibiotics

We are pleased to present the first successful use of molecularly imprinted nanoparticles for the degradation of N-L-hexanoyl homoserine lactone, a Gram-negative quorum sensing autoinducer. The presented work is a promising new technology that will help to fight bacteria without the risk of developing resistance, especially in the times when the effectiveness of antibiotics has been declining dramatically.

Work is presented in Application of molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles for degradation of the bacterial autoinducer N-hexanoyl homoserine lactone and published in the Chemical Communications, with contributions made by Joanna Czulak from MIP Diagnostics, alongside colleagues at The University of Leicester.

Spotlight On…. Dr Andy Lakey

Andy is A SEnior Scientist at MIP diagnostics

18.02.2019

What gets you out of bed in the morning?

My daughter mainly when she starts crying, seriously though my goal is to provide her the best opportunity in life the way my parents did for me so that is my main motivator.   

How would you describe your day job to a child?

I help develop tests to identify when a person is poorly and what is making them poorly.

What is your biggest achievement to date – personal or professional?

Personal achievement is the birth of my baby girl, professional achievement would probably be the completion of my PhD.

What does a typical day look like for you?

Wake up around half 6 (depending on my daughter), get her dressed and help my wife load the car in the morning for the daily drop off. Get ready and leave the house around 7:50 arriving at work for 8:30ish. When I get to work, I usually load the computer up, make a coffee and check emails before heading into the lab to do prep work for the day (making buffers etc). Then it’s a mix of office work (SOP writing, answering emails, writing lab book) and running lab work. Have lunch around 12. Before heading back into the lab to finish off any experiments that are running, usually heading home around 4:30.

What three words would you use to describe your role?

Interesting – this is a new technology for me so there is a lot of learning, Challenging – as  a new technology there are a lot of unknowns so lots of opportunities to challenge you and your thinking, Exciting – because of the potential of this technology to have a huge impact in the sector.

If you could switch jobs with someone, who would it be?

Before I went into science I dreamed of being an animator working for giants like Disney, so I would probably swap jobs with an animator working for Disney or big Hollywood productions.

What is on your wish list for your next five years here?

1.     Have a 2nd child
2.     Transition into a managerial role
3.     LFC to win the Premier League
4.     Extend the house
5.     Win the lottery

What do you like most about your job?

I like the problem solving aspect, there’s no better feeling than overcoming a challenging problem, the harder and more frustrating the challenge the better the feeling once you crack it.

What is your motto or personal mantra?

Not really a personal mantra but I like the quote “Aim for the moon, even if you miss you will land amongst the stars” – I like this because as a scientist you are always working towards achieving your goal/objective for a given project, however science can be a fickle so even if you don’t achieve your goal you will have developed new knowledge and learning as a result of the journey and as a result you are in a better place than before, I think that is important lesson to remember. 

What’s the most recent app you’ve downloaded but are yet to use?

CBeebies Playtime Island

Given a chance, who would you like to be for a day?

A professional footballer for Liverpool and the chance to play at Anfield in front of the Kop

What’s your favourite line from a film?

“Do or do not, there is no try” – Yoda, The Empire Strikes Back.

What is your guilty pleasure?

Love Island

MIP Diagnostics Spotted at SLAS2019

9 Top Technologies from the Exhibition Floor

14.02.2019

SelectScience editors reflect on the most exciting technologies showcased at the 2019 Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening conference and have mentioned MIP Diagnostics for our Epitope Mapping by Molecular Imprinting service.

We pre-launched this new service at SLAS2019 last week. Our innovative approach involves synthesis of MIP (Molecularly Imprinted Polymer) nanoparticles in the presence of whole protein, partial proteolysis of the protein bound to MIP, and subsequent sequencing of released peptides that were bound to the polymer. The important concept behind this approach is that MIPs synthesised in the presence of protein protect peptide sequences involved in MIP formation from proteolysis. Read more about our Epitope Mapping.

Read the full SelectScience article.

MIPs in Space!

07.02/2019

MIPs go Stratospheric!

A visit to the stratosphere demonstrates the exceptional robustness of MIPs which retain their function on return to earth. This was debuted at our Seminar in September 2018.

Abstract: Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) were produced against trypsin and tagged with DyLight 800 fluorescent dyes. Trypsin was immobilised by spotting onto nitrocellulose at various concentrations. The trypsin was then probed with MIPs, before fluorescent images were obtained. Detection of trypsin was compare before and after the sample was sent to the stratosphere and exposed to extreme atmospheric conditions.

Find out more and download our pdf.

Paper published in the Journal of Chinese Advanced Materials Society

12.12.18

Novel assay format for proteins detection based on magnetic nanoMIPs

We are pleased to present yet another example of a successful replacement of conventional antibody binders and enzyme reporters with molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles (nanoMIPs). A novel and fully abiotic assay format for protein quantification has been developed with pepsin-specific nanoMIPs bearing magnetic properties. The assay, where coloured or fluorescent polystyrene beads serve as a label instead of enzyme, can be applied to identify proteins in a wide range of clinical, forensic and environmental samples

Work is presented in Novel assay format for proteins based on magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles—detection of pepsin and published in the Journal of Chinese Advanced Materials Society, with contributions made by Joanna Czulak, Antonio Guerreiro and Francesco Canfarotta from MIP Diagnostics, alongside colleagues at The University of Leicester.

A novel alternative for ELISA assay based on fluorescent nanoMIPs

We are happy to present a novel and fully abiotic assay format (MINA) based on biotin-specific fluorescent molecularly imprinted nanoparticles (nanoMIPs). Such fluorescent nanoMIPs can act as both reporter probes and binding agents and can be developed for any molecule of interest: from small entities to peptides and proteins. This is a first report of an assay which, unlike ELISA, requires no washing steps or addition of enzyme substrates, making it more user-friendly.

Work is presented in A Novel Assay Format as an Alternative to ELISA: MINA Test for Biotin and published in ChemNanoMat with contributions made by Joanna Czulak of MIP Diagnostics, alongside colleagues at The University of Leicester and Imperial College London.

OBN Awards Nomination

10.08.2018

MIP Diagnostics are proud to be shortlisted as finalists at the OBN Awards in October, in the “Bioseed One to watch category”.  

Dr John Harris, CEO of OBN (UK) said: “We received the highest number of qualifying entries for the OBN Awards this year, up a staggering 40% on last year’s total.

The standard of entries across all categories was extremely high and we are encouraged about the level of exciting new innovation and positive growth we are seeing in UK Life Sciences. We look forward to celebrating with all our finalists on 11 October at the Examination Schools in Oxford.” https://lnkd.in/eu_EkQh.

New Director of Diagnostics Development

04.06.2018

MIP Diagnostics Ltd is pleased to announce that Alan Thomson has joined the company to lead the diagnostic development work, with a focus on the in house licensing projects.

Alan has over 20 years of experience in the diagnostics industry, having worked for Axis-Shield, Unilever, Unipath and Alere (formerly Inverness Medical) in his career. His roles have involved managing fundamental research, technical scouting, product launch and manufacturing, and on-market support for a number of diagnostic products. Alan has extensive experience of all aspects of the product launch cycle, including taking the Alere HeartCheck product from the patent stage as an inventor to full market launch with CE Marking and ISO Accreditation.

Alan’s most recent position prior to joining MIP was as Technical Director of Relitect Limited, a start-up company spun out of the University of Leeds. In that position he led the research and development, established premises, recruited the technical team, set up the company infrastructure and was instrumental in securing over £2M in funding. 

MIP Diagnostics Ltd has moved from the founding laboratory at the University of Leicester, to new labs and offices at Colworth Park in Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire.

01.05.2018

Colworth Park has been a centre of excellence for industrial research for over 60 years, and has a long history of diagnostics development. 

Being based at Colworth allows MIP Diagnostics to take advantage of the excellent corporate infrastructure that is available at the Park, and allows employees to network with other scientists on site, as well as collaborate with academics from the nearby Oxford, Cambridge, Cranfield, Nottingham and Leicester Universities. 

The move has provided space for on-site chemical synthesis, as well as characterization/application work, and MIP Diagnostics have been setting up their own surface plasma resonance platform to aid their progress.

“It is important to have space for further expansion, given the myriad opportunities presented by our core technology”. Adrian Kinkaid, MIP Diagnostics Ltd CEO.

Jim Reid appointed Chairman

05.11.2015

To further support its plans for expansion, MIP Diagnostics has appointed Jim Reid as chair to provide valuable commercial expertise.

Jim has extensive experience in the diagnostics marketplace and is world-renowned in the life sciences sector. He was the winner of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year for Science and Technology for both Scotland and the UK in 2005, and he has previously worked for blue-chip organisations including Organon, Roche and Trinity Biotech. 

CEO of MIP Diagnostics, Dr Adrian Kinkaid, said:

“We are delighted to welcome Jim to the MIP Diagnostics team. He has already made significant contributions to our development and his experience in the Diagnostics field is invaluable. The ongoing support from Mercia is especially appreciated as we bring our novel MIPs platform to a wide range of markets.”

Commenting on his new role, Jim Reid, said:

“MIPs offer many advantages and has the potential to satisfy a recognised gap in the market which antibodies have been unable to address. Through the continued support of Mercia, MIP Diagnostics is now perfectly placed to expand its operations to service these exciting market opportunities.”

Dr Nicola Broughton, Head of Universities at Mercia, said:

“We are pleased to support MIP Diagnostics with its next stage of development, and we are absolutely delighted to see Jim on board to help drive the company forward with his impressive background and expertise.

“The global market for antibodies is vast, with many potential opportunities for growth available, so this is a really exciting time for MIP Diagnostics as it continues to build and scale its business.”

Dr Sharon Spencer, Director of Commercialisation at the University of Leicester, said: 

“The University is delighted by the progress of MIP Diagnostics as it continues to build on the research of Professor Sergey Piletsky and colleagues here in Leicester. We are grateful for Mercia’s support of the company and are confident that Jim’s involvement will accelerate MIP Diagnostics’ growth in its chosen markets.”