SCIENTISTS at York University, who have developed a revolutionary tool for examining the nature of matter, are calling for just £250,000 to move from prototype to production.

Already the innovative technology which could shake up the 25.4 billion dollar scientific instrument market worldwide, has caused a stir, at an investment presentation at the White Rose Bioscience Forum at the Central Science Laboratory at Sand Hutton, with pharmaceutical companies and research institutions expressing interest.

Forming a company called Paraytec, the chemistry scientists have perfected miniaturised ultra violet (UV) absorbance detectors, more sensitive and accurate than anything known before.

UV absorbance detection is one of the most widely used laboratory techniques to establish the nature of matter, with different wavelengths of ultra-violet light indicating different compounds.

In this case a capillary the width of a human hair is used as a sample vessel, needing samples 1,000 times less than current methods.

Other benefits include greatly improved sensitivity and a speeding-up of the analytical process, so that biochemistry companies developing new drugs can screen more quickly and accurately.

Among a vast range of applications could be the "fingerprinting" of the difference between healthy and diseased human cells in order to better diagnose diseases.

Paraytec has already received £25,000 from the University of York to develop the prototype and for the past year Science City York has provided the company with specialist business support and advice, including market research, funding and planning through to commercial production.

Professor David Goodall, Paraytec's technical director, said that £250,000 was all that was needed from investors to move into production.

He said: "Science City York has been a tremendous support in developing academic research into what is now a very attractive business proposition.

"An important part of this was assisting us in conducting market research with end users which proved invaluable in developing the products to suit the market needs.

"This research showed that there is an immediate use for the detectors with comments such as 'the instrument manufacturers will be knocking on your door...sensitivity has not really improved in the last ten years'."

Carolyn Randall, business promoter for Science City York, said: "Paraytec's miniature detectors have the potential to transform the UV detection market on a global scale.

"I have been delighted to provide assistance on the commercial aspects of the development and seeing such positive early stage interest from end users as well as potential investors is a real endorsement of both the technology and the plans to bring the products to market."

In the past year, Science City York's business development team has helped 19 new businesses to become established.

Updated: 11:18 Friday, November 12, 2004