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Highlights
- Versarien signs distribution agreement with ABC for graphene-based biosensors in the UK and Europe.
- New graphene barristor technology allows for enhanced biosensor performance in medical diagnostics.
- The collaboration with MCK Tech Co. Ltd. will expand product capabilities in sensor technology.
Versarien Plc (AIM:VRS), a leading advanced engineering materials group, has announced a significant breakthrough in biosensor technology with the launch of a new sensor chip utilizing a novel graphene barristor platform. This new sensor technology, developed by A Barristor Company (ABC) in South Korea, marks a major step forward in the use of graphene-based devices for medical diagnostics. Versarien has entered into a distribution agreement with ABC, enabling the company to distribute these cutting-edge biosensor products in the UK and Europe.
The graphene barristor is a unique type of transistor, featuring a Schottky barrier between graphene and silicon. This configuration allows the barristor to amplify current modulation more than 10,000 times compared to traditional graphene field-effect transistors (GFETs), making it a powerful tool for overcoming the limitations faced by GFET technology. These advancements promise to improve the sensitivity and performance of biosensors, particularly in medical diagnostics.
The new biosensor chips developed using this technology are designed to be highly versatile, with the graphene surface being terminated with either pyrenebutanoic acid succinimidyl ester (PBASE) or another preferred linker. PBASE is a widely used linker in field-effect transistor (FET) biosensors, often seen in carbon nanotube and graphene-based biosensor applications. The products can be supplied as individual chips or on a wafer scale, offering flexibility for different market needs.
Versarien’s partnership with MCK Tech Co. Ltd., a South Korean company that specializes in chemical vapor deposition (CVD) grown graphene, plays a critical role in the supply chain for these products. MCK Tech, which is also an existing licensing partner of Versarien, will provide the CVD graphene required for these devices and will assist in the fabrication of the sensor components.
The potential for growth in this sector is substantial, as Versarien anticipates expanding the range of sensor products it distributes. Future developments could include infrared detection, gas and chemical detection, temperature sensing, and the integration of multiple sensors on a single chip. These advancements in sensor technology could revolutionize various industries, including healthcare, environmental monitoring, and industrial applications.
Dr. Stephen Hodge, CEO of Versarien, expressed his enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, "I am delighted that we have signed this distribution agreement with ABC to market their innovative graphene-based biosensors in the UK and Europe. I had the privilege of collaborating with ABC’s CEO, Prof. Hyun-Jong Chung, for several years prior to joining Versarien. It is exciting to see this sensor platform come to fruition, and I anticipate it will drive significant advancements in medical diagnostics."
This collaboration underscores Versarien’s commitment to advancing its graphene-based technology and expanding its market presence. With the potential for future sensor developments, this agreement positions Versarien to continue leading the charge in innovative materials and technologies, particularly in the biosensor space.
As the demand for more efficient, sensitive, and versatile diagnostic tools increases, Versarien’s strategic move into the graphene-based biosensor market could prove to be a game-changer for the medical industry, as well as for a wide range of other applications.
