Our core competence is development and use of shape-memory materials, a.k.a. smart materials. Our materials form macroscopic blocks with specific structures at nanoscale. We sculpt biocompatible polymers to provide rigidity to the matrix and to accelerate the shape transitions.

We utilize controlled transformation of these structures to perform various functions. We develop the materials for specific applications, design instruments around them, and commercialize the developed systems. The first generation will use temperature to change the shape. Such “through-wall” control enables seamless coupling of sealed cartridges to a control block and ensures sterility.

Sortiphase was founded on the concept of separating particles by size in a process, based on transformation of shape-memory materials. Feasibility of such an approach for small molecules was demonstrated 3 decades ago. However, the process was too slow and manual to compete with existing alternatives. We have developed solutions to eliminate these drawbacks, designed the novel materials, and identified the production method suitable for commercial manufacturing. We also extended the method to the widest range of sizes between 1 nanometer and 1 micron by shaping the materials at the nanoscale. Adjusting the geometry of the matrix-containing cartridge and flow control, we make systems applicable to an exceptionally wide range of sample volumes from ~10 µL to ~1,000 L. This combination of properties enables numerous applications in biochemical and molecular biology research, labs-on-chips, production of biologics, and environmental monitoring. The chemistry of our materials makes our platform more eco-friendly than the technologies currently dominating in that size range.

We are currently developing two specific materials for separation. The first is designed for precise separation, featuring a sharp separation curve. It is tailored for analytical applications, and its production is optimized in smaller sizes. This material is intended for applications that handle samples between 0.01 and 10 mL (e.g., labs-on-chip). The second material is easier to produce, but offers lower selectivity. It is intended for separations of particles that differ significantly in size (e.g., monoclonal antibodies and mammalian cells) and for the applications that may require large volumes (e.g., manufacturing of biologics in bioreactors up to 2,000 L).