Focal molography is a nanotechnology-based method that combines photolithography, molecular self-assembly and state-of-the-art optical technology. The company says it is a truly interdisciplinary technology, inspired by physics, tailored for biology and implemented for biomolecular interaction analysis.

Central to the technology is a biological surface structure termed mologram, which is part of the company’s patented sensor chip. Bound biomolecules on the mologram function as “detectives” that selectively recognize the target sample analyse, binding to them and emitting a light signal.

This signal indicates the exact measure of binding affinity between recognition site and analyte. This coherent signal can be measured in the so-called molographic focus or spot of light in the instrument’s detector array. One diffraction-limited mologram spot, less than one micrometre in diameter, represents one binding signal. Multiple molograms can be assembled on a tiny chip, meaning that multiple parameters can be measured swiftly, with great selectivity and sensitivity.

The company’s initial focus is providing the technology to the drug discovery market.