CIC biomaGUNE launches a company that will transform disease diagnosis by using nanosensors
Backed by the Basque Government’s SPRI Group and Basque Country Venture Capital Management through the Basque Tek Ventures initiative, the company is offering the diagnostics industry a technology patented by CIC biomaGUNE:
metal/protein hybrid sensors
CIC biomaGUNE has launched Taldeki Biosolutions, a new spin-off dedicated to the development of solutions for detecting antibodies and diagnosing various diseases using a patented technology endorsed by more than 10 years’ scientific research led by the Ikerbasque Research Professor Aitziber L. Cortajarena, scientific director of CIC biomaGUNE.
Antibody detection and quantification have become particularly relevant in recent years due to the implementation of personalized medicine, immune-related diseases or the threats of emerging epidemics. The need for these technologies was amply demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic.
As a first point of market entry, Taldeki Biosolutions has developed sensors to detect human respiratory infectious diseases (caused by different respiratory viruses responsible for flu, COVID and other diseases). However, it is broadening the focus to other diseases, in particular autoimmune diseases. “We are now developing sensors for type 1 diabetes mellitus, and we are also validating this solution for coeliac disease,” said Pablo Ferrón, the CEO of Taldeki Biosolutions. “Our technology is notable for its versatility, as it allows antibodies related to a wide range of diseases to be detected, from infectious diseases, such as sexually transmitted diseases, to autoimmune diseases, such as coeliac disease, and even allergies. The possible applications are very broad,” added Professor Cortajarena.
Current in vitro diagnostic platforms are based on antibodies that detect other antibodies. “Classical antibodies have a number of stability problems; they are expensive to produce, costly to design and manufacture, not very stable over time, and depend on the use of animals for their production. All these problems are overcome by our technology,” said Ferrón.
In this respect, Taldeki Biosolutions offers more stable, reproducible and cost-effective solutions, designed and produced quickly to suit the specific needs of each customer. The company plans to be a global leader in antibody detection solutions, and to lead the transformation toward faster, more robust and more accessible methods. “We aim to set a new standard in the in vitro diagnostics industry by driving forward the adopting of metal/protein hybrid molecules as a superior alternative to traditional antibodies,” said Ferrón.
Metal/protein hybrid molecules
The technology developed and patented by CIC biomaGUNE is based on the design of proteins capable of stabilizing nanomaterials with catalytic or luminescent properties. “These are hybrid structures, made up of proteins capable of stabilizing a group of metal atoms, and the metal atoms themselves, which are capable of amplifying the signal. So by using various detection technologies, we are able to see rapidly whether a sample is positive, depending on the presence or absence of the antibody we are looking for,” explained Ferrón.
Among the multiple advantages of this new technology it is also worth highlighting “reproducibility between different batches, low production costs, reduced time for generating new reagents, etc.”, said Cortajarena. They also highlighted the design flexibility, detection sensitivity and reagent stability of the technology developed by CIC biomaGUNE.
“By simply changing the biorecognition element, the nanosensors can be adapted to detect any type of antibody. That means new nanosensors can be rapidly developed for new needs,” said Cortajarena. What is more, the fact that nanosensors for different antibodies of interest can be integrated into the same device means that “it would be possible to simultaneously analyze the presence of antibodies linked to various diseases, i.e., a multiple detection system could be incorporated into the same device”, she added.
Taldeki Biosolutions is backed by the Basque Government through the Basque Tek Venture initiative of the SPRI Group and Basque Country Venture Capital Management. Basque Tek Ventures is a new initiative geared towards supporting and accompanying and investing in the creation of new technology-based companies (deeptech) underpinned by technologies generated by the centers within the Basque Research & Technology Alliance (BRTA).
The initiative has its own fund (BasquetekVenture, FCR) that invests in the new start-ups created. It identifies and prioritizes the technological assets offering the greatest potential, supports the creation of high-performance teams, and accompanies the launch of the company and its access to the market through this technology transfer fund.
CIC biomaGUNE is very positive about the launch of this new spin-off: Professor Cortajarena believes that “one of the main missions of the center is to generate value from research. Taldeki Biosolutions is a new company based on its in-house innovative technology, thus validating the CIC biomaGUNE model of innovation underpinned by cutting-edge science. This initiative broadens the impact of our research, thus boosting the generation of economic and social value”. In addition to Taldeki Biosolutions, CIC biomaGUNE has two other spin-offs involved in important work: Asparia Glycomics and Hylezitek.
About CIC biomaGUNE
The Center for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials CIC biomaGUNE, member of the Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), conducts state-of-the-art research at the interface between Chemistry, Biology and Physics, devoting particular attention to studying the properties of biological nanostructures at the molecular scale, and their biomedical applications. It was recognized in 2018 as a “María de Maeztu” Unit of Excellence for meeting requirements of excellence, characterized by a high impact and degree of competitiveness in its field of activity on the global scientific stage.
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