General description
AlphaContec GmbH was founded in Golm near Berlin in August 2001. Conventional biometric approaches developed and applied by AlphaContec were the origin to start to describe individuals by molecular markers (molecular diagnostics, molecular recognition) combined with scanning probe microscopic approaches. AlphaContec offers two SPM-devices at the moment: (i) the BERMAD 2000 - developed with Nanotec Electronica (Madrid) - a versatile and easy-to-use AFM with unique features especially suited for universities and research labs, and (ii) a multipurpose microscope enabling by different heads (AFM, SNOM, light microscopy) applications in various fields. Scientists in AlphaContec are experts in the detection of proteins and nucleic acids at surfaces of solid samples (ELISAs, RIAs, hybridizations) and at biological specimens at cellular, subcellular and molecular levels by various microscopie methods (TEM, SEM, immunoelectron microscopy, gold labelling). We consider this as strength for the project. |
Role in the project
The role of AlphaContec in TASNANO is the biological functionalization of cantilevers with proteins, nucleic acids and other biopolymers and the characterization of these functionalised cantilevers. The goal is the adaptation of bioassays (ELISAs, RIAs, nucleic acid hybridisations) to the nanometer scale by means of (arrays of) functionalised cantilevers with piezoresistive readout; conventional assays will be performed in parallel to verify the results. Costs of our cantilever assays will be lower than costs of typical ELISA or RIA assays. The sensitivity of our cantilever assays will be better than in conventional assays or cantilever assays based on beam deflection readout. This will be a breakthrough and enable our cantilever assays to be a common platform for fast screening and molecular profiling for diseases, applications in food industry, environmental research and many other fields. |