Nanosys and Bruker Daltonics Announce NALDI™-TOF Collaboration

Nanosys, Inc. and Bruker Daltonics Inc. today announced that they have entered into a broad R&D collaboration and distribution agreement for Nanosys’ nanotechnology-enabled matrix-free target plates for use primarily with Bruker’s FLEX™-series of laser desorption ionization (LDI) time-of- flight (TOF) mass spectrometers. These Nanosys plates are known as Capture and Analyze (CA) NALDI™ chips.

NALDI chips enable significant sensitivity, throughput and ease-of-use benefits for the analysis of small molecules such as drug compounds, small peptides, natural products, pesticides or many other low mass molecules that previously were difficult to analyze with the ease and throughput of MALDI- TOF mass spectrometers. Today, these molecules typically have to be analyzed with LC-MS (liquid chromatography – mass spectrometry), which is time-consuming, less robust and requires more operator training.

NALDI chips combined with robust, very fast, and exceptionally easy-to use TOF or TOF/TOF mass spectrometers have the potential to revolutionize small molecule mass spectrometry in many important areas of life science or chemical research and analysis. Potential applications areas include chemistry and molecular biology research, molecular diagnostics and molecular imaging research, pharma/biotech and other industrial research and analysis, as well as many applied fields, such as food analysis, environmental analysis, toxicology, etc.

High-throughput analysis using NALDI™ chemical analysis chips. The image shows the direct deposition of samples (with no chemical matrix added) onto the surface of the Nanosys NALDI chip.

Under the terms of the collaboration agreement, the companies will collaborate closely on R&D related to the NALDI chips, as well as on applications and assay development. Nanosys will manufacture and exclusively supply NALDI chips for Bruker LDI-TOF mass spectrometers, while Bruker Daltonics will market and distribute the innovative NALDI chips worldwide. Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.

“We are excited to be partnering with Bruker Daltonics to bring our NALDI chip products to market,” said Calvin Chow, Nanosys' Chief Executive Officer. “Bruker is a clear leader in the area of chemical analysis and life sciences research. They understand how to take breakthrough technology products successfully into high value markets.”

Frank Laukien, Ph.D., President and CEO of Bruker Daltonics, commented: "The unique capabilities offered by the Nanosys NALDI chips in combination with our industry-leading TOF and TOF/TOF mass spectrometers open up a breadth of new research and applied market opportunities for the easy, fast and robust analysis of small molecules. We are very pleased to be working with Nanosys to deploy their practical and enabling expertise in nanotechnology to address these new areas.”