Feb 4 2009
JPK Instruments, a world leading manufacturer of nanoanalytic instrumentation for research in life sciences and soft matter, has won the international Prism Award for Photonics Innovation in the USA. The Berlin-based company managed to beat out its direct competitors following a review and ranking of more than 135 products and applications by a panel of international judges.
Dr. Joost van Mameren from JPK's application team with the award-winning NanoTracker
In 2007 and 2008, JPK Instruments AG was recognized by Deloitte as the fastest growing nanotechnology company in Germany. The conferment of the Prism Award for Photonics Innovation in January 2009 for a JPK product underlines the company's leading position in the nanotechnology sector. JPK's NanoTrackerTM was voted the world's most innovative product in "Life Sciences", one of nine categories of the competition. Frank Pelzer, CEO of JPK Instruments AG: "We are pleased that our many years of research are not only appreciated by our customers but have now also found favor with a panel of international experts. Our special thanks go to our employees, without whom this technological achievement would not have been possible.”
The NanoTrackerTM operates with laser tweezers and can trap, track and detect nanoparticles solely with light. This allows researchers, for example, to examine at the nanoscale level how viruses and bacteria enter a cell. On this basis, researchers can develop drugs that prevent alien elements from entering cells or promote drug delivery into cells. "Our NanoTrackerTM is a milestone in cell research. No other instrument enables three-dimensional and non-destructive real-time observations at such a resolution. The NanoTrackerTM affords researchers completely new insights and possibilities,” said Frank Pelzer.