Extensive experience in LFA
While our own research is focused on the detection of low amounts of autoantibodies in body fluids (in AMD/eye diseases), we are not restricted to detect antibodies. Furthermore, we can offer antibody and antigen detection, as well as multiplex detection of analytes in different formats or competitive assays, to meet all requirements of your lateral flow assay.
With our collaboration partner, we have the possibility to produce recombinant protein of your personal target. Thus, we can provide enough material to establish your lateral flow assay fast and cost efficient.
Saliva-based lateral flow assay
AMD biomarker autoantibodies may be found in both tears and blood. Blood has evident disadvantages in terms of invasive sampling prior to testing. In addition, high protein concentrations seriously affect assay sensitivity and are a constant problem for blood-based assays. While working on development of blood-based assays, maintect GmbH has also been developing a saliva-based sampling system which offers advantages by being quick and non-invasive. The system we are developing permits neutralization of the inhibition exerted by saliva on the test line signal.
Autoantibody detection via lateral flow
Autoantibodies are produced against self-antigens due to the loss of self-tolerance and occur in a broad range of diseases like autoimmune diseases, cancer, cardiovascular, infectious or neurodegenerative diseases. In addition to the harmful effects on host tissues autoantibodies are also known to have a protective against pathogenic processes and play a huge roll in the homeostasis. Since autoantibody pattern in (AMD) eye diseases are our main research object, we provide extensive knowledge in the detection of autoimmune reactive antibodies via lateral flow assays or microarrays. We can offer help in the development of your own lateral flow device and especially helping you to achieve a rapid point-of-care detection of your autoantibody of interest.
Antibody drug development
Antibodies in the panel of dry or wet AMD are promising targets to be tested as new therapeutic options for non-responders to current treatment options. This applies not only to whole antibodies, but also to appropriate paratope sequences (CDR-sequences) of the antibody of choice or other related drug targets in the pathways influenced by those marker molecules found in both clinical trials. Paratope sequences could be sequenced and synthesized more easily and would offer a more cost-effective alternative to antibody treatment. Thus, the immunological changes determined in AMD patients offer a way to personalize therapy in order to offer each patient the most promising treatment. With our broad international network of collaboration partners in combination with strong expertise in antibody development, we can offer contract work to establish your own antibody treatment strategy.
Software development
We developed our own software to anyalse different formats of lateral flow tests. Using a mobile phone for analysis open the door to opportunities in private and laboratory environment.
With our mobile-app it is possible to analyse different types of lateral flow tests. Developers can setup the test-pattern with reference-spots and setup the algorithm for the analysis. With the camera of his mobilephone the enduser can scan his personal test to see the result. For further analysis and validation his result can be uploaded to a central database, giving feedback to the developers or medical staff.