Archer marches towards broad use with biochip advancement

ASX-listed semiconductor company Archer Materials (ASX: AXE) has achieved a major advancement for its proprietary biochip technology by electronically controlling the sensitivity of incorporated graphene field effect transistors (“gFET”) devices.

This development allows the Company to overcome a common limitation in which electronic signals are disrupted by the ions and molecules found in biological fluids, preventing many biosensing platforms from becoming broadly useful and is critical for the selective detection of target molecules.

Archer was able to achieve this by utilising a sensor design strategy which involves the use of a range of dynamic electric fields to remove signal interference. Archer developed the software that enabled them to do this, incorporating it with additional hardware with their biochip system, allowing for electronic modulation and the tuning of gFET sensitivity and a more sophisticated platform.

The biochip is one of two core technologies being developed by Archer, with clear commercialisation opportunities should the tech continue on its current trajectory. The biochip functions as what the company describes as a ‘lab-on-a-chip’ that is being designed to potentially electronically detect multiple complex biological targets simultaneously, opening the door to provide a significantly streamlined diagnostics process.

By using graphene, the ultrasensitive nature of gFETs is expected to offer greater analytical and detection capabilities than the traditional electronic sensors used in medical diagnostics.

Today’s announcement continues recent biochip milestones, after implementing an early-stage prototype of its integrated biochip platform which included a wettable graphene transistor for sensing, an automated liquid sample handling robot, software, and electronic readout in November last year.

The development of Archer’s graphene biochips complements their development of quantum computing processors, that form part of Archer’s deep-tech IP portfolio.

The last few years have seen significant growth in global investment towards next-generation life science tools that service diagnostics and medtech.

Archer is well positioned to advance the biochip prototype towards commercialisation courtesy of a strong cash balance of more than $24 million on hand with no debt.