Poly-Dtech accelerates TR-FRET and rapid diagnostic assay development with the SpectraMax iD5e reader
COMPANY/UNIVERSITY
Poly-Dtech
TEAM MEMBERS
Susana Brun, PhD – Biology
Mohamadou Sy, PhD – Chemistry
Joan Goetz, PhD
PRODUCTS USED
SpectraMax® iD5e Multi Mode Microplate Reader
The Challenge
Poly‑Dtech develops lanthanide‑based fluorescent nanoparticles to support immunoassays for drug discovery, biomarker screening, and rapid diagnostics. As these technologies progressed toward customer‑ready solutions, the team required detection methods that deliver high sensitivity and reproducibility while supporting workflows that translate reliably from internal development to customer laboratories.
For TR‑FRET and multiplex immunoassays, Poly‑Dtech needed to develop europium‑based nanoparticles under identical assay conditions used by end users. Differences in detection performance could impact assay robustness, reproducibility, and transfer, particularly for partners operating in regulated or high‑throughput environments.
At the same time, Poly‑Dtech’s lateral flow research extended beyond traditional visual or colorimetric readouts. The team required quantitative, sensitive detection capable of delivering reliable results within minutes to support rapid diagnostic development for time‑critical applications.
The Solution
To address these requirements, Poly‑Dtech implemented a detection platform capable of supporting multiple assay formats while remaining aligned with customer workflows. In addition to sensitivity, the team needed a system that could support TR‑FRET, multiplex immunoassays, and lateral flow research without introducing variability as assays moved from development toward broader deployment.
The SpectraMax iD5e reader supports time‑resolved fluorescence measurements required for TR‑FRET assays, enabling Poly‑Dtech to develop and validate its NoW‑Dtech™ and Multi‑Dtech™ immunoassays under the same conditions used by customers. This alignment supports reproducibility and helps reduce risk during assay transfer.
The TR‑FRET option also supports characterization of europium‑based nanoparticles, including Bright‑Dtech™ 614 – Eu (Red), for drug discovery and biomarker screening workflows. For lateral flow research, the ScanLater™ option enables quantitative measurements directly on lateral flow strips, supporting rapid, data‑driven evaluation of diagnostic assays.
Combined with SoftMax® Pro Software, the platform provides a consistent, user‑friendly workflow that supports advanced R&D and customer‑ready assay validation, helping Poly‑Dtech move efficiently from development into real‑world deployment.
SpectraMax iD5e Multi-Mode Microplate Reader
ScanLater™ microplate for Western Blot detection
SoftMax Pro Software
Products Used
The SpectraMax iD5e Multi-Mode Microplate Reader measures absorbance, fluorescence, luminescence, TRF and FP, and can be expanded to include TR-FRET, HTRF, BRET, dual luciferase reporter assays with injectors, and western blot detection.
Industry-leading SoftMax® Pro Software is designed to provide the simplicity, flexibility and power required for advanced data analysis.
The Results
With the SpectraMax® iD5e Multi‑Mode Microplate Reader, Poly‑Dtech strengthened its ability to develop high‑performance, customer‑ready TR‑FRET and multiplex immunoassays with greater confidence, efficiency, and scalability. The iD5e gave Poly-Dtech a single platform to support high‑sensitivity TR‑FRET development and quantitative lateral flow detection, enabling reproducible, customer‑ready assays from day one.
By enabling development and validation under customer‑identical conditions, the iD5e platform improved assay reproducibility and reduced risk during downstream transfer. Poly‑Dtech leveraged this capability to advance next‑generation TR‑FRET kits (NoW‑Dtech™ and Multi‑Dtech™) for key applications including cytokine detection, Tag assays, and cAMP signalling, supporting drug discovery and biomarker screening workflows used by biopharma and IVD partners.
In lateral flow research, the ScanLater™ option extended Poly‑Dtech’s capabilities beyond traditional visual readouts, enabling quantitative, highly sensitive detection directly on the strip. This approach delivers reliable results in approximately 20 minutes, accelerating the development of advanced rapid diagnostic tests for prostate cancer and emerging applications in cardiac disease and other time‑critical medical settings.
Together, these capabilities reinforce Poly‑Dtech’s position as a technology partner enabling next‑generation immunoassays, while allowing the team to innovate faster, lower development risk, and deliver solutions that integrate seamlessly into customer workflows.
References:
Find out more about Poly-Dtech’s work here