Biochip "encounter" blitz
Release date: 2006-10-25
Biochip technology, known as "Encounter," has gained significant popularity in China and is now helping local companies rise to the ranks of global leaders in biotechnology. Over 500 different types of biochips and related products have been launched, primarily used for detecting autoimmune diseases, pathogenic microorganisms, food safety, HLA typing (for bone marrow matching), and general health screenings.
Looking ahead, the future of biochips in clinical diagnostics, biosafety testing, import-export quarantine, forensic science, and health screening appears increasingly promising. By 2010, the global biochip market is expected to reach a value of $4.2 billion, driven by rapid technological advances and growing demand across various sectors.
The "2006 International Bio-Nano-Information Fusion Conference and International Biochip Technology Forum" concluded in Beijing on October 12. According to the latest reports from the event, biochip technology is experiencing an average annual growth rate of 14.1%. This high-tech field, which has seen fast development since the 1990s, integrates microstructures and biochemical processes into a single chip, enabling accurate, fast, and comprehensive detection of biological components such as proteins and DNA.
Today, biochips are widely applied across multiple fields, including biology, medicine, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, environmental protection, forensics, and public health. The global market for drugs involving pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics research with biochips is estimated at $180 billion annually. In 2005, the global biochip production was valued at approximately $2.3 billion, with the U.S. market accounting for about $1.58 billion and the Chinese market reaching around 410 million yuan, of which 180 million yuan was related to health checkups.
By 2010, the global biochip market is projected to reach $4.2 billion, maintaining a steady growth rate of 14.1% per year. Researchers in China are actively working on protein chips, aiming to develop highly sensitive and specific chips that can detect a large number of active proteins. As this technology advances, it will play a crucial role in early disease diagnosis, environmental monitoring, food safety, and drug development.
Multinational corporations have also recognized the potential of biochips, particularly in new drug screening and genetic research. Gene chips, protein chips, cell chips, and tissue chips have already been developed and are being used in various applications. Microfluidic chips are also gaining traction, with more mature technologies emerging and finding their way into real-world use.
Due to the immense commercial potential, countries like the United States and the UK are increasing their investments in biochip research. In December 2004, the FDA approved diagnostic access for Roche Diagnostics’ DNA chip and Affymetrix’s chip scanner. In the coming years, gene chips developed by Affymetrix and BioMerieux may also be submitted for FDA approval.
Most major pharmaceutical companies worldwide are investing heavily in using gene chips for ultra-high-throughput drug screening and pharmacogenomic studies. Many international firms remain optimistic about the future of biochips and are increasing their R&D budgets accordingly.
China has made remarkable progress in biochip innovation, with 356 domestic patents and 62 foreign patents filed. It was the first country to approve biochips for clinical use, nearly three years before the U.S. By 2005, over 500 biochip products were available in China, with cumulative sales reaching nearly 250 million yuan from 2002 to 2005. More than ten chips have been industrialized, and research centers in Beijing and Shanghai are leading the industry. Cities like Tianjin, Xi’an, and Nanjing are also seeing the growth of biochip research institutions and companies.
The Beijing National Engineering Research Center for Biochips has achieved world-class standards in gene, protein, cell, and microfluidic chip technologies. Its application-focused chips, such as those for autoimmune disease detection, pathogen identification, food safety, HLA typing, and health screening, are among the most advanced globally. The center has exported five products internationally, including laser confocal scanners to Europe, America, and South Korea, marking a milestone in China's biochip industry.
Experts believe that low-density clinical test chips will serve as the entry point for biochips in medical settings. In the future, more advanced biochip products will transition from labs to clinical routines, allowing doctors to perform early and personalized diagnoses and treatments.
During the “Tenth Five-Year Plan†period, China’s biochip research led to 356 domestic patents and 62 international ones. The national project on functional genomics and biochips resulted in nearly 20 papers published in top journals. Researchers identified over 750 gene and protein strains, along with important findings such as marker genes for viral and bacterial infections and tumor diagnosis, as well as siRNA targeting.
Currently, there are three main types of biochips: microarray chips (including gene, protein, cell, and tissue chips), microfluidic chips (such as sample preparation, capillary electrophoresis, and chromatography chips), and integrated biochip systems or lab-on-a-chip platforms. These devices are characterized by miniaturization, integration, parallel processing, and automation.
In terms of microarray chips, China has developed chips for hepatitis virus detection, respiratory pathogens, and sexually transmitted diseases. Other projects include genetic disorder diagnostic chips, tumor evaluation chips, and cardiovascular disease diagnostic tools. Some of these chips are already being used in medical research.
Regarding microfluidic chips, universities like Zhejiang and Nanjing are making significant progress, especially in capillary electrophoresis chips. However, in terms of biochip-related instruments, domestic R&D remains limited, and most equipment is still imported.
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