Scanning Ion Occlusion Spectroscopy (SIOS)
Izon's SIOS (Scanning Ion Occlusion Spectroscopy) technology is a nanotechnology platform for detecting, measuring and controlling nanoparticles down to the molecular scale.
SIOS uses Izon's dynamically resizable nanopores. These resizable nanopores can be opened, closed and changed in size in real time. This unique approach to resistive pulse sensing offers rapid, nanoscale information at a very practical price. Each particle is individually detected and analysed offering many possibilities that were previously unobtainable or impractical.
Fixed geometry micro-scale apertures for particle detection have been used in a wide range of industrial applications since the invention by W.H. Coulter in the 1950s. Izon's SIOS platform takes this concept down to the nanopore range and adds the ability to open, close and change the size of the nanopores in real time. Particles from 800nm in size down to DNA strands can be detected. Delivery of particles through the nanopore is accurately controlled by opening and closing the pore. An animation demonstrating the SIOS technology platform can be viewed by clicking on the link to the left.
Novel functionalities of SIOS include:
- Real-time nanoparticle detection, analysis and control
- Dynamic real-time system optimisation
- Broad range of particle size, down to molecular size
- Robust, stable, low-cost nanopore elements
- Easily automated features
- Single particle control
- Rapid and accurate diagnostics platform
Investigators who will benefit from the availability of SIOS include those wanting to use or develop practical platform solutions for:
- Nanoparticle measurement (for example size, surface charge, geometry)
- Virus quantitation
- Immunodetection
- ImmunoNanoMetrology (INM)
- Biomolecule analysis
- Environmental monitoring
- Single particle gating and control
The first applied instruments of the SIOS family now available through Izon are the qNano and qViro systems.
ImmunoNanoMetrology (INM)
The SIOS diagnostics platform uses nanoparticles coated with molecules such as antibodies, oligonucleotides or peptide nucleic acids to detect the presence of target molecules or DNA structures.
A binding reaction with the target molecule causes a change in properties of the nanoparticle which can be quickly and accurately detected by the SIOS instrument. The animation on the left demonstrates the use of Izon's technology platform as a diagnostic instrument.
