Microbubbles: An Innovative Approach to Separation Technology that’s Disrupting the Status Quo

Inadequate sample preparation is both harmful and costly. Most biological workflows require a sample preparation step to isolate the target of interest before downstream testing or processing can occur. Current technologies have failed to meet the needs of evolving diagnostic and therapeutic industries – and that shortcoming has a negative impact on healthcare costs and results.

Akadeum has risen to meet this need. We are a global leader in buoyancy-based technology and are applying this capability to improving sample preparation in human health industries.

Buoyancy-Activated Cell Sorting (BACS™), Akadeum’s patented approach to separation, offers a novel way to isolate the target of interest (cells, nucleic acids, proteins, chemicals, etc) using science so simple, it floats! We functionalize tiny floating particles that we call “microbubbles” and develop the protocols and devices to put our microbubbles to work. Our technology combines the specificity of affinity molecules such as antibodies with the power of gravity in a workflow that’s fast, easy, and effective while being exceptionally gentle on delicate targets, like rare immune cells of low abundance.

Elegant in its Simplicity, Powerful in its Application

Our buoyant approach to separation eliminates many of the existing technical hurdles that are limiting improvements or effectiveness of processes today. Unlike with magnetic bead-based separation, microbubbles do not have the same volume and equipment restrictions.

Our microbubbles are gently mixed into the sample where they engage the targets, before isolating those targets through floatation-based separation.

It’s that simple! We’ve taken technology that traditionally requires additional vessels and equipment to accomplish this separation and put it into a single container where it’s self-separating.

It’s that simple! We’ve taken technology that traditionally requires additional vessels and equipment to accomplish this separation and put it into a single container where it’s self-separating.

Broadly Applicable Solutions that Scale

No additional equipment is required to perform a microbubble workflow. No magnets, no columns, no limitations. This permits simple scale-up to large volumes and allows for concurrent processing of large numbers of samples. Not only that, but our microbubbles are highly specific and provide an exceptionally gentle method of sample preparation – maintaining sample integrity and abundance. A microbubble workflow does not require the application of external forces, like exposure to rare earth magnets, that can negatively impact yield and the final target population.

Microbubbles are fast, easy, and gentle – and at Akadeum, we are developing new kits, new applications, and new partnerships to leverage the power of microbubble technology to solve long-standing problems in sample preparation.

Human PBMC Leukopak Isolation Kit - Data Sheet