Press releases

New Imaging Capabilities for Cell Biologists-Viewing the Cell as Never Before

Washington, December 4, 2004: Cell biologists will experience the distinctive imaging capabilities of QuantomiX proprietary WETSEM^TM technology first hand at the ASCB (American Society for Cell Biology) 2004 meeting in Washington in December. The new technology permits direct imaging of wet cells with an Electron Microscope, including bacteria-cell interaction, lipid accumulation, and myelin in tissues. QuantomiX expects that the added value of imaging samples in their original state will prove to be a major step forward in cell biology. QuantomiX will showcase its technology and demonstrate it at its booth, jointly with FEI company.

The WETSEM^TM technology produced by QuantomiX enables direct imaging of cells, tissues and scaffolds with scanning electron microscopes. The single- use, QX capsules utilized for viewing samples employ a 100-nanometer thick membrane that is transparent to an electron beam but impervious to water, and sufficiently strong to resist a one-atmosphere pressure difference. Many different types of samples, including cells, tissue biopsies, foods and ink have already been viewed and analyzed in this manner.

"For the first time, we can image cells in their native state with an electron microscope" says Prof. Paul Matsudaira, Director of the Whitehead / MIT Bio-Imaging Center, "QuantomiX technology allowed us to image cells and especially lipid droplets, in a new informative way." A significant number of cell-biology-related applications of this technology have been developed in the last year. "In the last year we have been working closely with our users to facilitate their application development," states Dr. Ory Zik, QuantomiX CEO. "new insights gained from the study of wet samples are helping propel cellular physiology into the next century," he asserts.

Researchers attending the ASCB meeting will be able to view a variety of these new applications in the form of cellular models seen with WETSEM^TM technology, in a series of workshops, poster presentations and live demo exhibits to be shown at the meeting

About QuantomiX

QuantomiX develops and commercializes breakthrough solutions based on its proprietary WETSEM^TM technology. This technology enables scanning electron microscopes (SEM) to image and analyze wet samples such as cells, tissue biopsies, foods and materials, in their native environment. Eliminating the need for time-consuming preparation procedures, the WETSEM^TM technology ensures that sample integrity is not compromised by artifacts. QuantomiX innovative technology opens new opportunities for application-specific tools to improve drug discovery, and advances treatment and diagnostic solutions for the medical and pharmaceutical markets.

Established in 2001, QuantomiX operates in Israel, the US, Europe and Japan. The company's managerial team and development staff include an experienced cadre of business and industry professionals.