Nanoparticle analysis uses patented technology and, the company claims, is less than a tenth of the cost of the electron microscopy techniques traditionally used for measuring these types of particles
NanoSight, a nanoparticle analysis technology business, has agreed a third round of investment totalling £500,000 led by Strathdon Investments and including the South West Venture Fund and a private investor.
Nanosight has unique technology in the optical detection and real time analysis of nanoparticles and molecular structures.
Nanoparticles are widely used in substances including scratch resistant coatings, sun protection creams and silicon wafer production slurries.
Global production of nanoparticles is currently estimated to be in excess of 1000 tonnes per annum and is expected to increase by a factor of up to 100 over the next five years.
Nanoparticle analysis is used across a broad range of industries including electronics, biotechnology, cosmetics and energy - the analysis provides knowledge critical to researchers in nanotechnology, product developers and quality assurance professionals.
The company, headquartered in Salisbury, has an international distribution network.
Its customers include BASF, Seagate and Micro Emissive Displays, as well as universities such as Birmingham, Surrey and Liverpool.
Nanosight's process of nanoparticle analysis uses patented technology and, it claims, costs less than a tenth of the cost of the electron microscopy techniques traditionally used for measuring these types of particles.
The nanoparticle manufacturing market, estimated to be worth over $20bn, offers the most immediately addressable market for Nanosight's visualisation technology.
The funding here will drive sales into this market.
The latest funding follows a £1.2 million Technology Programme Project awarded to Nanosight by the UK Department of Trade and Industry in September 2004.
The project, with funding from the DTI and Nesta, involves collaboration with Smiths Detection - Watford.
Smiths develops and manufactures detection equipment for civil and military markets worldwide.
The objective of the project is to develop a bio-terrorism detection product by combining the existing visualisation technology with a revolutionary new method of creating artificial antibodies.
Commenting on this investment, Jeremy Warren, chief executive of NanoSight, said: "We are pleased to have investment from both Strathdon and from South West Ventures, both of whom will bring strategic horsepower to our business in addition to this finance.
"With initial development and sales success under our belts, we are fortunate to have a range of alternative development paths to consider".
Nanosight is a UK based company formed to develop optical detection and analysis of deeply sub-micron particles and molecular structures in real-time.
Nanoparticles could previously only be visualised by an electron microscope, a large instrument costing several hundreds of thousand of pounds, and requiring a highly skilled operator.
Nanosight received an initial investment from Nesta's Invention and Innovation programme in January 2004 to further develop the nano-microscope concept.
This is the work of founder and technical director Bob Carr.
Strathdon Investments's strategy is to invest in young technology companies, primarily in the UK.
