Hekat Fluidics provides a microfluidic‑optical platform that label‑free detects, counts, and sorts individual nano‑scale particles such as exosomes and viral vectors in minutes. The system delivers high‑throughput, single‑particle resolution for applications like biopharma quality control, liquid‑biopsy diagnostics, and water‑quality monitoring.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Current methods for analyzing nano‑scale biological particles such as exosomes, viral vectors, and synthetic nanoparticles are slow, require labeling or bulk measurements, and cannot isolate individual objects based on functional properties. This limits rapid quality control in bioproduction, early cancer detection via liquid biopsy, and real‑time environmental monitoring.
Solution
Hekat Fluidics offers a microfluidic‑optical instrument that detects, counts, and sorts individual nano‑objects at high speed without the need for labels. The platform combines precise fluid handling with optical interrogation to assess each particle’s biological or specific functional criteria. Results are generated in minutes, enabling immediate feedback for process optimization, diagnostic decision‑making, or water quality assessment. By providing single‑particle resolution, the system supports accurate measurement of critical metrics such as the full‑to‑empty viral capsid ratio or exosome sub‑populations linked to disease. The technology is positioned as the first commercial solution capable of high‑throughput, label‑free sorting of nano‑objects.
Target Audience
Primary customers include biopharmaceutical manufacturers needing viral vector quality control, clinical laboratories performing liquid‑biopsy cancer diagnostics, and environmental testing labs monitoring water quality for nano‑particle contaminants.
Features
- Integrated microfluidic channel that isolates individual particles for optical analysis
- Label‑free detection using high‑sensitivity optical sensors to assess size, fluorescence, and functional markers
- Real‑time counting and sorting based on user‑defined biological criteria (e.g., exosome origin, viral capsid integrity)
- Rapid measurement cycle delivering results within minutes for high‑throughput workflows
- Capability to quantify full versus empty viral capsids, supporting gene therapy and vaccine manufacturing quality control
- Application to liquid biopsy for early cancer detection by isolating tumor‑derived exosomes
- Environmental monitoring module for assessing nano‑particle contamination in water samples