How Fluidic Analytics is changing the world of protein research

What is Fluidic Analytics and what do they do?

Fluidic Analytics is a company that designs, develops, and manufactures equipment for the characterisation of proteins in laboratory, medical, and consumer applications. Its products are used to help researchers and doctors better understand the role proteins play in various diseases and conditions, which will inevitably lead to new, better treatments and potential cures.

Fluidic has developed a technology called the Fluidity One platform, which is a microfluidic device that can be used to analyse protein-to-protein interactions in complex samples (for example, blood, saliva, and plasma). This technology has a wide range of applications, including the analysis of clinical samples, the study of disease mechanisms, and establishing human functional immunity.

The Fluidity One system has been used to isolate proteins from the blood of patients with cancer, which could lead to the development of new cancer treatments. The technology has also been used to study the role of protein aggregation in Alzheimer's disease and other neurological disorders.

Fluidic’s approach, using diffusion within a plastic chip to separate proteins, enables the measurement of protein interactions in blood, for example, without any preparation of the sample, giving a much purer reading and better insights into critical biological processes in real-time.

Who is behind the company?

Fluidic Analytics was founded in 2013 by CEO, Andrew Lynn and CSO, Professor Tumos Knowles.

Andrew is a three-time deep-tech entrepreneur and executive with a focus on life-science and physical-science ventures. Andrew founded Orthomimetics, a regenerative orthopaedic devices company, based on his PhD research conducted jointly at the University of Cambridge and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Professor Tumos Knowles is a Professor of Biophysics and Physical Chemistry at the University of Cambridge and is known for his work on protein aggregation and for describing the kinetics of this process and the underlying molecular mechanisms.

Professor Knowles is considered the key driver of the business. He identified the need and then developed the means of measuring protein interactions in complex backgrounds through his scientific research at the University of Cambridge. Tuomas has the unusual distinction of holding professorships of both Physics and Chemistry at Cambridge and is one of the youngest professors in the university’s history. Tuomas is supported by an impressive executive team.

The Company's technology is based on Professor Knowles' work and focuses on applying microscale diffusion and laminar flow technologies in a novel way to analyse protein-to-protein interactions in complex backgrounds

As impactful as DNA sequencing?

Protein analysis is notoriously difficult, yet many health problems can be linked to issues with protein production, absence, or interaction. Whilst DNA sequencing has provided valuable new insights into the likelihood of a medical problem developing, the detailed analysis of protein interactions provides valuable insights and answers to the question, ‘what is actually going on’ in a biological system.

One of the challenges researchers face when it comes to protein research is understanding how proteins work and how they are related to various diseases and conditions. This can be difficult because proteins are extremely complex molecules that carry out a wide range of functions in the body. Another challenge is figuring out how to identify and isolate proteins for study. Current techniques rely on forms of ‘purifying’ the protein to be analysed, potentially altering it, which can directly affect results.

Protein misfolding and aggregation is the hallmark of numerous human disorders. The proprietary technology developed by the Fluidic team, which allows proteins and their interactions to be tested in complex backgrounds, could revolutionise numerous markets in the broader healthcare industry.

Taking vaccine testing as an example, the Fluidic technology allows a user to determine not only whether antibodies exist in a host or whether they are binding with their targets, but also how well an antibody is binding. A clinician could therefore determine how effective and active an antibody is, rather than simply whether it is present, allowing them to infer what is known as ‘functional immunity’.

The future of protein research

Fluidic Analytics is changing the world of protein research and that could have huge benefits for the future of medicine. As we mentioned earlier, proteins are complex molecules that play a key role in many diseases and conditions. By understanding how they work and how to identify them, researchers can develop new treatments and cures for a wide range of diseases. If you are interested in learning more about their products or the company, be sure to get in touch.