Xfold Imaging Oy (Xfold) is a start-up from Aalto University, Finland, and produces nanostructured plasmonic glass/plastic slides for bioimaging and diagnostic applications.
As part of the OITB project EMERGE (Emerging Printed Electronics Infrastructure), Xfold was supported by our scientists from the research group Hybrid Electronics and Patterning (Institute MATERIALS). Within this collaboration large area signal-enhancing plasmonic structures for research and diagnostic applications by means of R2R Nanoimprint Lithography could be produced. For this purpose, we characterized the master provided by Xfold and produced a roll-to-roll polymer stamp from it. With this polymer stamp, we were able to replicate the Xfold structures on PET film on our R2R pilot line, demonstrating an important step towards upscaling for mass production.
"The technology helps enhance weak optical signals and can be produced on a variety of substrates such as silicon, glass and polycarbonate and cut into various sizes," explained Nagarajan Subramaniyam, CEO and co-founder of Xfold, at the Photonics 21 Annual Meeting 2023, explicitly highlighting the collaboration with our MATERIALS institute.
