Molecular Surface Engineering – functionalized consumables for LifeScience applications
PolyAn is a nanotechnology company specialized in the functionalization of surfaces using Molecular Surface Engineering (MSE). Since 1996 PolyAn develops and manufactures consumables for multiplex diagnostics and life science research. PolyAn has its production and r&d laboratories at our new site in Berlin which we opened in September 2021.
We are a team with different backgrounds ranging from chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology and engineering with multiple years of experience in surface functionalization. We constantly strive to expand the range of our capabilities and develop new and better performing surfaces. Being based in Berlin, we take advantage of the regional ecosystem of excellent research institutes & universities through co-operations and joint research projects.
Company milestones
1996 | PolyAn was founded in 1996 by scientists and engineers of the Humboldt-University of Berlin, the Fraunhofer Institute and the GKSS Institute Geesthacht (now HZG ). The initial idea behind PolyAn was the commercialization of an expertise in surface modification technologies. In the first years this involved mostly research and development services in a wide range of applications from semiconductors, membrane based separation technologies to life sciences. |
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2003 | Especially in the life science industry the longterm trends with regards to multiplexing, miniaturization, high throughput and a requirement for higher signal-to-noise ratios in bioanalytics increase the importance of functional surfaces. In order to take advantage of this trend and better leverage our expertise in Molecular Surface Engineering, PolyAn decided to build our own range of functionalized consumables. In 2003 the first milestones for this transition were achieved with:
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2005 | As part of establishing the production of microarray consumables especially for in-vitro diagnostics applications, PolyAn certified according to ISO 9001 in May 2005. |
2007 | PolyAn built a class 7 cleanroom production facility to meet the stringent quality requirements for high density microarrays. In the following years PolyAn expanded the range of consumables until eventually establishing the broadest portfolio of functionalized slides, coverslips, microtiterplates and other substrates for microarrays on the market. |
2009 | PolyAn starts with the production of fluorescence encoded microparticles. In November 2010 followed the presentation of the first multiplex bead assay for the BioResponse-Platform – the ANA Bead Assay – together with the co-operation partners at the MEDICA, Düsseldorf. Based on customer feedback and multiple research projects the product portfolio of our fluorescent beads was continuously expanded and optimized. New surfaces were developed to reduce aggregation behavior, immobilize (bio-)molecules via click-chemistry and simplify the coupling process with aldehyde matrices. |
2012 | Development work was started on the third product family: functionalized 96-well plates for microarrays and high-end immunoassays. First products based on 3D-Epoxy and 3D-NHS surfaces were launched in 2017. In the subsequent years, this product family was expanded with further new surfaces, polymers and formats. The most recent addition being our coated PCR plates for covalent immobilization. |
| 2019 | The microparticles product family is extended by the introduction of our new fluorescence encoded, submicron PMMA beads. |
2021 | PolyAn moves to the new site in Berlin-Marzahn.
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Today, PolyAn is an established producer of functionalized consumables for life science research, diagnostics, biotech and pharma applications. Our customers are served directly and via our world-wide network of specialized distributors.
