Next Generation Microsensors for Pharmaceuticals, Environmental Monitoring, Bio-diagnostics and Defence & Security

++ Breaking News ++

Oxford HighQ has accurately measured the drug release profile for API loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles.

We have developed a technology that allows rapid and consistent measurement of drug load across a nanoparticle population (both surface coating or internal drug loading) for targeted drug delivery and have successfully demonstrated measurements showing the timed release of cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) from mesoporous silica nanoparticles.

Further information is available on our Nanomedicine page or you can download our application note

OXFORD HIGHQ

Oxford HighQ is a spin out from the University of Oxford’s Departments of Materials and Chemistry, developing next-generation chemical and nanoparticle sensors.

Our core technology of optical microcavities provides a fundamental enhancement of signal strength that will offer a step change in sensing across a wide range of applications and markets.

Optical microcavities have been studied for many years but until now their commercial use has been restricted as large scale, repeatable production of high precision optical microcavities has not been possible.

Based on work from the University of Oxford, we have developed a process that gives the precise control required for manufacturing high precision, optical microcavities in large quantities, opening up the potential to manufacture optical microcavities on a commercial scale.

Oxford HighQ was founded with the aim of commercialising this exciting technology to fulfil the potential for true universal chemical sensing at the microchip level.

OPTICAL MICROCAVITY TECHNOLOGY

In most optical measurements light passes through the sample only once, whereas optical microcavities can be used to increase the sensitivity of optical measurements by reflecting light through the sample more than 10,000 times, amplifying the signal and allowing the measurement of very small sample volumes with high sensitivity.

This technique can be used to amplify signals from almost any type of optical technique used in chemical sensing, including absorption, fluorescence, Raman scattering, and refractive index sensing, allowing the development of compact, fast and accurate chemical and nanoparticle sensors for use in medicine, environmental monitoring, research, bio-diagnostics and security & defence.

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OUR Products

NANOPARTICLE ANALYSER

One of the key challenges in smart drug delivery is characterisation of nanoparticle drug loading and unloading profiles.

Oxford HighQ’s technology provides a means to accurately measure drug loading and delivery profiles as well as particle size, allowing fast and affordable measurements for researchers.

Demonstration instruments are currently available to perform proof-of-capability measurements on customer samples.

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REMOTE NUTRIENT SENSOR

We are also developing a remote, in-situ nutrient sensor based on our expertise in chemical sensing and utilising our Optical Microcavity Analyser (OMCA) technology.

This sensor will allow the remote measurement of nitrates and total phosphate to well below the current legal requirements at a cost point competitive with existing water monitoring equipment.

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FUTURE PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

Optical microcavities have many other potential applications including in smart farming, aquaculture, defence & security, medical diagnostics and point of care.

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If you would like to learn more about our products and applications and keep up to date with our technology, then why not contact us?

Latest news

Oxford HighQ, a spinout from University of Oxford has been awarded a prestigious Institute of Physics Business Start-up Award for the development of a novel characterisation solution to measure loading of drug delivery nanoparticles at single particle level, a key parameter for advanced therapies relying on nanocarriers.

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