Our cutting-edge nanotechnology offers fast, affordable, non-invasive, scalable point-of-care detection for numerous pathogens, including viruses like COVID-19, empowering governments, health agencies and individuals worldwide to identify infections and end outbreaks faster than ever before. This technology has been developed by a team of researchers at McMaster University under the guidance of Drs. Yingfu Li, John Brennan and Leyla Soleymani, who are recognized as global leaders in biosensing technologies, and their applications as point of care (POC) diagnostics.
The Aptamers are single-stranded DNA molecules capable of binding specifically with target proteins on the surface of SARS-CoV-2 to detect if a person has COVID-19.
Zentek is currently adopting its Detection Technology for commercial prototyping readiness, and working with Halteres Associates, a world-leading bioscience consultancy, to assist us in our commercialization process.
The advantages of Zentek's aptamer technology are:
- Simplicity & Comfort – uses saliva rather than a nasal swab reducing aversion to testing and risk of error in the sampling process
- Accuracy – electrochemical sensing technology rather than lateral flow allows for sensitivity equivalent to a 36 count RT PCR
- Mobility – simple hardware lends itself to easy transport and high throughput, point-of-care testing
- Speed – results in under 10 minutes
- Low Cost – aptamers can be developed more quickly and cost effectively compared to antibodies allowing us to be highly competitive compared to currently available rapid detection tests now and into the future
- Scalability – new aptamers can be developed to detect numerous other pathogens giving our technology the ability to enhance safety and empower businesses, governments and our healthcare providers well beyond COVID
In addition, we believe our aptamer technology may have the potential to bring these unique properties to other market-ready rapid detection solutions.
