Backgrond of Nanosep AB
Miniaturised Analytical Technologies
Peter Spégel´s and Peter Vibergs´s PhD studies focused on miniaturized analytical techniques. In analytical separations, the performance of an equipment is dependent on the size of the particles packed into stainless steel or capillary columns. The smaller the better. However, as the particle size is decreased, many different challenges occur. One such problem that was early recognized with miniaturized technologies was that they were sensitive to adsorption of components from the sample analysed. Smaller dimensions increased the risk of clogging. Another challenge was that packing of these small particles into stainless steel or capillary columns is extremely demanding as the pressure in the system increases strongly with decreasing particle sizes.
Analytical separations using nanoparticles
A novel and potential solution was the use of a nanoparticle suspension. Initially, the use of these suspensions required careful optimization and control of the analytical system. However, the introduction of a new family of analytical equipments (orthogonal mass spectrometers) opened for new possibilities. In 2001 the first successful separations using the Nanosep technology were performed by Viberg and Spégel. The first patent applications was filed in 2001, and the first publication on the technique came in 2002.(Viberg, Jornten-Karlsson et al. 2002)
Foundation of Nanosep
Together with MedCap (formerly NewScience) Nanosep was formed in 2003 to commercialize this new technology. Further financing were made in 2005 by LUAB, and in 2007 and 2008 by Lumitec AB. In 2006 PerĹke Oldentoft, a respected person within the analytics community, joined the board of directors and as a shareholder in the company.