Aspiring Adelaide chipmaker secures US patent


Brandon How
Reporter

Adelaide-based semiconductor developer Archer Materials has secured a United States patent for its graphene biochip technology, allowing the local company to start working with American device partners on a push into the key market.

The ASX-listed company announced the patent on Wednesday, describing it as a key milestone in commercialising its Biochip intellectual property for use in medical diagnostics.

Based at the Lot Fourteen innovation precinct, the company is also developing a 12CQ qubit chip which could enable existing smartphones and computers to incorporate quantum computing.

Archer Materials’ Biochip. Image: Archer Materials

The US patent covers the company’s Biochip program, which is developing a biosensing chip for graphene complexes and their compositions that can be used in biomolecular sensing.

Archer describes its graphene field effect transistor sensors as a ‘lab-on-a-chip’ because it combines several laboratory functions to “process, detect and analyse biological specimens”.

The technology could lead to small devise used at home to help detect and measure biomarkers like potassium.

The right amount of potassium intake is important in preventing kidney stones, controlling blood pressure, and protecting against strokes and cardiovascular disease, according to Health Direct. However, too much potassium can cause an irregular heartbeat or cardiac arrest.

Archer executive chair Greg English said the patent protects the program in the key market and will allow a commercialisation push with US partners.

“The US represents a key market for the sale of our Biochip in time, due to the size of the market and the rate of chronic kidney disease in the country,” Mr English said.

The company’s work focuses on modifying graphene surfaces to facilitate more complex chemical reactions involving inorganic compounds. Currently, use of graphene in diagnostics is limited because it is difficult to attach inorganic materials to its surface.

Archer hopes that its Biochip IP will enable the medical diagnostics industry to take advantage of the many advantageous characteristics of graphene, namely low molecular mass, large surface area to high thermal and electrical conductivity, and high mechanical strength.

Do you know more? Contact James Riley via Email.

Leave a Comment

Related stories