Christchurch Nanotechnology Firm Unveils New Analysis Technology Set For Global Biotech Market

Christchurch nanotechnology company Izon Science has announced a new high-precision measurement system aimed at the rapidly expanding global markets for mRNA vaccines and advanced medical therapies.

The instrument, known as the Pulsoid, measures nanoparticles – ultra small particles that play a central role in modern therapeutics. Precisely measuring their size, concentration and surface charge is essential to ensuring these medicines are safe, stable and effective.

At the core of the Pulsoid is a silicon chip containing a precisely engineered nanopore. As particles pass through the tiny opening one at a time, the system records detailed data on each individual particle. This single-particle approach delivers higher resolution than traditional techniques that rely on averaged measurements.

In validation studies, the system demonstrated size measurement accuracy to better than one nanometre, a billionth of a metre.

The Pulsoid builds on more than two decades of development at Izon. While the company’s earlier Tunable Resistive Pulse Sensing platform delivers high analytical performance, its complexity and learning curve largely confined adoption to specialist research laboratories.

Chief Operating Officer Jules van der Voorn said the Pulsoid’s development required significant scientific and engineering depth.

“This has been one of the most technically complex projects we have undertaken, but thanks to the efforts of the many who contributed, we've reached an important milestone. Where our previous systems found their home in specialist research labs, the Pulsoid has much broader appeal. We are excited to see what our customers achieve with it.”

The company generates approximately 99 percent of its revenue offshore and has sold around 1,000 analytical instruments worldwide with its existing platforms, generating more than $40 million in revenue. The Pulsoid is intended to extend that global footprint by making advanced nanoparticle analysis accessible to a broader segment of the biotechnology and pharmaceutical market.

Hans van der Voorn, CEO and cofounder, said accurate measurement is fundamental to advancing nanomedicine, and making it more accessible is an important step forward.

“This is only the beginning of what we intend to achieve with this new silicon chip design. We have a clear development roadmap focused on extending the technology to measure progressively smaller structures. By advancing the underlying science and engineering, we plan to analyse single large molecules, including complex biologic drugs.”

The launch comes as global investment in lipid nanoparticle technologies continues to grow, driven by expansion in mRNA vaccines, cancer therapies and gene therapy applications.

While specialist silicon components are fabricated overseas, the Pulsoid’s core design, engineering and intellectual property have been developed in Christchurch. Izon employs around 60 staff globally, with its head office and product development team based in New Zealand.

The initial release of the Pulsoid is focused on lipid nanoparticle applications, with more precise capabilities in development. The first commercial units are expected to ship to customers later this month.

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