Technology
The principal innovative steps in Argento, the subject of the five patents filed (one of which has already been granted), is the ability of the analysis technology that enables multiple, fully quantitative measurements to be made from a single sample (blood, urine, saliva etc) and all in a fully portable handheld device.
Process
As already described, Argento is an electrochemical-based immunoassay system. This technology uses silver nanoparticles (though it can also use gold and copper) as the signalling method to quantify the reactions.
Magnetic beads and silver nanoparticles are coated with a monoclonal (or polyclonal) antibody against the target analyte. The sample is mixed with the antibody-coated particles and incubated during which time complexes form as shown in the illustration. After incubation magnets are activated in the test strip that pulls the complexes formed away from the reaction chamber and the unwanted materials within the incubation chamber to the measurement zone.
Once in the measurement area, the silver nanoparticles are cleaved, drawn down to the sensor and measured. The amount of silver particles is directly proportional to the amount of analyte in the sample.
About
This combination of features is not available in competing products and is enabled by sensing techniques which exploit the advantages of using silver, gold or copper in the test matrix, coupled with Argento's proprietary, patented device technology. These are further augmented, due to the size and low power requirements of the technology, by the ability to make use of WiFi, Bluetooth and GPRS communication technology to relay the results to central services or directly to patient records.
The analyte capture method (although competitive assays are also possible) is based on an "immune complex" being formed in exactly the same manner as in any immunoassay.
It is this basic feature that makes the Argento technology so universally adaptable. By the fact that exisiting rare reagents can be used, all with known characteristiucs, the transfer to the the more flexible and commercially powerful platform can be achieved quickly and relatively inexpensively. Regulatory approval processes will also be aside with many process documents having already been produced.
Downloads
Download articles, posters and publications on the Argento Technology
1. Poster: Bristol, UK 2009 Electrochemistry For Cardiac Markers
2. Poster: Glasgow, UK 2010 Biosensors Conference Silver Nanoparticles As Bio-Label
3. Poster: Oak Ridge, USA 2010 Argento Point of Care Platform technology