Derek Lee
Nanotechnology Company Essay
12/05/13
Nexgenia Corp.
Nexgenia produces material for life science applications and for in vitro diagnostics used
in the healthcare and medicine industry. For life science applications, they develop ways to do
molecular separations and chemical testing. Separations and testing are a part of in vitro
diagnostics. In vitro diagnostics (IVD) are tests that are used to detect conditions, infections, and
diseases. The materials they produce to do these things are based on polymer nanotechnology.
History
Nexgenia was founded in 2011. It started out as a company located in Delaware but then
expanded to Redmond, Washington where they are currently based. They now have office space
and laboratory at the University of Washington [1]. Thomas Schulte, Ph.D., is the founder and
CEO of the company. Schulte has had a thirty year career in senior management positions in the
in vitro diagnostic industry. He has experience directing product development, clinical studies,
and research and development for both large companies and small start-up companies. He has
been responsible for the development of clinical laboratory systems for detecting bacterial and
fungal blood infection, tuberculosis, and tuberculosis antimicrobial sensitivity [2]. He has also
developed products for diabetic home healthcare, including electronic lancing (skin puncturing)
and blood sugar measurement systems [2].
Technology
Nexgenia uses “smart” polymer reagents to make better clinical assays, or chemical
testing of substances. The smart polymers are able to change from small single molecules, which
react quickly, to large macro-molecule aggregates to make them easy to separate and then
analyze [3]. The changes can be triggered easily by small changes in their environment like
temperature or pH. Along with these stimuli-responsive polymers, the company developed a use
for magnetic nanoparticles. Basically, a magnetic core is covered with a polymer that attaches to
a target chemical that is being analyzed. By using a magnetic field, the attached particles can
aggregate into larger clumps, and be isolated from the solution. Because the polymer is designed
to be a conjugate of the target, that means the combined substances can easily detach from each
other. When you can isolate a target, you can analyze it by determining how much of it there is.
The significance of using a nanomaterial is that the particles have a greater surface to volume
ratio. The nanoparticles allow for more binding to the targets (higher sensitivity), and faster
binding reactions [4]. The magnetic properties allow for easier and faster separations.
Economic Impact
Nexgenia has an annual sales volume of between half a million to one million dollars [5].
With their developing technology, the company plans to use a business model that provides
proprietary material to manufacturers in order to earn revenue from the products the
manufacturers create [3].
Conclusion
Nexgenia’s polymer-based nanotechnology contributes to the advancement of diagnostics
in healthcare and life science. If health conditions can be diagnosed faster, which means finding
out if a person has a condition within minutes instead of hours or days, it allows it to be treated
faster. Having better methods for testing also means that new medical treatments can be
developed at a greater rate and with greater effectiveness. The materials that Nexgenia creates
are important for these advancements.
Works Cited
1. "History." Nexgenia Company Website. Web. 05 Dec. 2013.
<http://www.nexgeniacorp.com/history>.
2. "Management." Nexgenia Company Website. Web. 05 Dec. 2013.
<http://www.nexgeniacorp.com/management/thomas-schulte/>.
3. "Technology." Nexgenia Company Website. Web. 05 Dec. 2013.
<http://www.nexgeniacorp.com/technology/>.
4. "Stimuli-responsive Polymer Diagnostic Assay" Google Patents, 07 Nov. 2013. Web. 05
Dec. 2013. <http://www.google.com/patents/US20130295585>.
5. "Nexgenia Inc." Chamber of Commerce. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Dec. 2013.
<http://www.chamberofcommerce.com/redmond-wa/46928896-nexgenia-inc/>.