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KULAK performs bacteriophage research on the innovative biomolecular analysis tool of FOx BIOSYSTEMS

By April 21, 2018June 27th, 2023No Comments

FLANDERS, BELGIUM  — FOx BIOSYSTEMS, a biosensor company, and KULAK/KULeuven, a Belgian university, today announced that KULAK could perform breakthrough research using the White FOx 1.0 in the field of bacteriophages selection.

The proprietary FOx technology in the White FOx 1.0 system turns the well-established Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) principle into a highly performant, easy to use and cost-effective analytical instrument for biomolecular interaction analyses. As opposed to most commercial SPR systems, the White FOx 1.0 is not using microfluidics to bring the sample to the sensor. The FOx BIOSYSTEMS technology is using a fiber-based sensor that measures into a microtiter plate. This avoids potential clogging problems with larger molecules or compatibility issues. The use of classical microtiter plates and the ability to measure larger molecules makes it an interesting system for the KULAK to measure Bacteriophage interactions which is important in the field of viral particle interactions.

The FOx BIOSYSTEMS instrument is linked to chromatography to measure kinetic affinity and avidity of entire bacteriophages.

At the Interdisciplinary Research Facility Life Sciences, KULAK in Kortrijk phage display technology is a well-established technique for high throughput screening for affinity ligands. Innovative panning procedures for selection of suitable binders from a phage peptide display library are being investigated.

The White FOx 1.0 was purchased by the group of prof. Deckmyn in September 2017. Dr Noppe was the first client/user of FOx BIOSYSTEMS. Dr. Noppe got involved with the Fox Biosystems technology in 2014 after looking for a solution to measure affinity of target proteins to different strains and types of bacteriophages. The first attempt with a microfluidic SPR system failed after a single measurement due to clogging of the microfluidic channels. Using the Fox BIOSYSTEMS instrument, he could analyze many different strains easier, faster and with good accuracy at a reasonable cost.

The specifications and the robustness of the FOx BIOSYSTEMS technology allowed us to measure in crude cell mixtures while it was simply not possible with classical microfluidic-based SPR systems. The throughput and characterization information that we can achieve with the White FOx 1.0 is not achievable with classic SPR systems” says Dr. Noppe.

FOx’ sensor technology can be used, depending on the required sensitivity, in a label-free or labelled mode enabling the quantification of specific proteins, small molecules, DNA and cells in microliter volume samples. The ability to detect different target molecules, up to 10 times faster, with one single device is a key differentiator compared to competing technologies and gives the operator a low cost base and much more flexibility.

​“The versatility and robustness of the FOx systems are key benefits in current high-level research,” says Filip Delport, CTO of FOx BIOSYSTEMS. “The evaluation of our technology by the KULAK IRF Life Sciences, will show the benefits in viral particle cutting-edge research fields”.

From left to right: Prof. Hans Deckmyn, Tiebe van Boven, Roxanne Cordier en Wim Noppe.

About KULeuven

Situated in Belgium, in the heart of Western Europe, KU Leuven has been a center of learning for nearly six centuries. Today, it is Belgium’s largest university and, founded in 1425, one of the oldest and most renowned universities in Europe. As a leading European research university and co-founder of the League of European Research Universities (LERU), KU Leuven offers a wide variety of international master’s programs, all supported by high-quality, innovative, interdisciplinary research. Since its founding, KU Leuven has been based in the city that shares its name. Leuven is a pleasant, safe and bustling student town, where centuries-rich history meets cutting-edge science. The university also offers degree programs at campuses in 11 Belgian cities, including Brussels, Ghent and Antwerp. More information on www.kuleuven.be.

About KULAK

Kulak has its own education and research profile which is complementary to the big urban campuses. Kulak is the only campus in Flanders where you can find all faculties or study programs in one building complex. By focusing on the crucial first years of an academic training and by maintaining relatively small groups of students per field, they are able to provide their students with optimal support and tuition in the best of environments. However, in the first place, students are invited to take initiative and responsibility. They support each other intensely, which leads to significantly higher passing rates in the first year compared to the other Belgian universities. As a division of KU Leuven, the students are very much ‘part of Leuven’ because they share the same programs, professors, and high standards of quality in education, research and service to the community. The campus has some 120 academics in residence, complemented with some 100 Leuven academics who regularly teach in Kortrijk. Our Alma Mater is an internationally renowned institution, with excellent education and research potentials and with strong networks, both locally and internationally.

About FOx BIOSYSTEMS

FOx BIOSYSTEMS is a spin-off from the KU Leuven. The company offers superior analytical systems, consumables and services for the R&D instrumentation market and the bioprocessing market (development and production of bio-pharmaceuticals). FOx BIOSYSTEMS was founded in 2016 after more than 10 years of high level research in the MeBioS Biosensor group of Professor Lammertyn, KU Leuven. The FOx BIOSYSTEMS instrumentation uses the fiber optic surface plasmon resonance (FO-SPR) to detect target molecules. The disposable sensor probe is coated with a gold layer and functionalized with bioreceptors. This sensor probe is then coupled to a cost-effective, reliable analytical benchtop instrument that enables real-time analysis of biomolecular interactions with a miniaturized optical unit. This instrument, priced at a fraction of competing technologies, was designed, developed and built to be easily operated by a non-specialized user. FOx’ sensor technology can be used in a label-free or labelled mode enabling the quantification of specific proteins, small molecules, DNA and cells in microliter volume samples. This allows scientists or process control analysis laboratories to perform biomolecular analysis in a faster, more robust and more versatile way than ever before.

 

FOx BIOSYSTEMS contact:

info@foxbiosystems.com

 

​KULAK Contact:

Dr. Wim Noppe

IRF Life Sciences, KU Leuven Campus KULAK Kortrijk

Etienne Sabbelaan 53 – box 7711

8500 Kortrijk

Email: Wim.noppe@kuleuven.be