PHABIOC, a Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) spin-off, can replace up to four conventional sample holders with its SpecPlate, an innovative design that improves the efficiency, speed and precision of lab work while drastically reducing the amount of consumables. Mass production is now beginning.
Accurate information about the exact composition and concentration of samples is crucial in processes such as the development of drugs and their ingredients. Until now, high-throughput quality control processes have used microtiter plates made of high-quality plastics as standard sample holders, which are then discarded. To reduce this extremely high resource consumption in labs while also speeding up analysis processes, the KIT spin-off PHABIOC has developed an advanced microtiter plate called SpecPlate. “With its closed and tiered measurement chambers, SpecPlate allows four independent measurements per sample,” said Dr. Carsten Radtke, co-founder of PHABIOC GmbH and a former researcher at KIT’s Institute of Process Engineering in Life Sciences (BLT). “That means a decrease of up to 75 percent in the amount of consumables used and up to two-thirds in processing time for lab analyses that are faster, more economical, and more sustainable.”
Maximum Precision and Compatibility
SpecPlate needs only a small amount of sample material for a measurement – just 36 microliters. Its special design ensures that the liquid fills the measurement chambers completely; there are no measurement errors caused by imprecise pipetting or the shape of the liquid’s surface. With the different chambers, measurements over a wide range of concentrations are also possible without dilution. “A special advantage is its compatibility with industry standards, such as automated pipetting systems and plate readers,” Radtke noted. The measurement chambers and their inlets are precisely arranged in the pattern used in commercially available microtiter plates so that SpecPlate can be seamlessly integrated in existing laboratory systems and processes. “Our technology uses typical market solutions but also addresses their limitations and susceptibility to error. That’s why we see SpecPlate as the better standard.”
Developed Through Research at KIT
SpecPlate was originally developed by a working group headed by Professor Jürgen Hubbuch (BLT). It was brought to market in collaboration with industry partners. A production partner in Germany ensures high product quality, fast delivery and short lines of communication. “We already got positive feedback about SpecPlate from pilot customers, including leading pharma companies, during the pilot phase,” Radtke said.
Being “The Research University in the Helmholtz Association”, KIT creates and imparts knowledge for the society and the environment. It is the objective to make significant contributions to the global challenges in the fields of energy, mobility, and information. For this, about 10,000 employees cooperate in a broad range of disciplines in natural sciences, engineering sciences, economics, and the humanities and social sciences. KIT prepares its 22,800 students for responsible tasks in society, industry, and science by offering research-based study programs. Innovation efforts at KIT build a bridge between important scientific findings and their application for the benefit of society, economic prosperity, and the preservation of our natural basis of life. KIT is one of the German universities of excellence.
PHABIOC