Axion BioSystems Acquires CytoTronics' High-Density CMOS MEA Technology to Advance Drug Discovery
Key Insights
Axion BioSystems (search) has acquired CytoTronics (search)' intellectual property and assets, bringing Harvard University-developed high-density CMOS microelectrode array technology to its portfolio of live-cell bioelectronic assay systems.
The acquired technology features over 13 million nanoscale multimodal electrode-based sensors distributed across industry-standard 96- or 384-well microplates, enabling high-throughput screening at unprecedented single-cell resolution.
The acquisition strengthens Axion's ability to provide advanced tools for neural and cardiac drug discovery applications while leveraging the company's existing software, hardware, and customer support infrastructure.
Axion BioSystems (search), a leading life sciences tools company, has acquired the intellectual property and assets of CytoTronics (search), Inc., bringing novel high-density electrode array technology originally developed at Harvard University to its growing product suite. The acquisition strengthens Axion's ability to provide researchers with advanced tools for disease research and drug discovery applications.
Revolutionary CMOS MEA Technology
CytoTronics (search)' next-generation CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) microelectrode array (MEA) plates represent a significant advancement in bioelectronic assay technology. The platforms contain over 13 million nanoscale multimodal electrode-based sensors distributed across industry-standard 96- or 384-well microplates, enabling high-throughput screening for drug discovery at unprecedented single-cell resolution.
Bioelectronic assays utilize biocompatible electronic microsensors embedded in cell culture surfaces to continuously monitor living cells, detecting cell number, morphology, and functional readouts such as neural firing and cardiac beating without requiring additional labels or dyes. This label-free approach provides researchers with real-time insights into cellular behavior and drug responses.
Strategic Integration and Leadership
Jeffrey Abbott, PhD, co-founder and former Chief Executive Officer of CytoTronics (search), has joined Axion BioSystems (search) as Vice President to oversee the commercialization of the acquired technology. "Axion has a long-standing reputation for delivering intuitive, reliable, and scalable electrophysiology platforms to the cell biology community," Abbott said. "That industry leadership makes Axion the ideal home for CytoTronics' innovative technology. I'm excited to work with the Axion team to commercialize the next generation of high-throughput, high-density CMOS MEA assays for neural and cardiac drug discovery."
Complementing Existing Capabilities
The acquisition aligns with Axion's core mission of providing scientists with best-in-class tools to study electrically active cells like neurons (search) and cardiomyocytes (search). Julien Bradley, Chief Executive Officer at Axion BioSystems (search), emphasized the strategic nature of the deal: "The acquisition of CytoTronics (search)' technology is highly strategic for Axion, complementing our industry-leading MEA and impedance platforms with high-density arrays without sacrificing high throughput, and leveraging our high-performance software, robust hardware, and customer support infrastructure."
Enhanced Drug Discovery Applications
The CytoTronics (search) platform is designed to push resolution and throughput simultaneously, supporting neural and cardiac drug discovery applications while maintaining compatibility with established screening workflows. The technology enables researchers to capture changes in cell number and morphology as well as functional readouts at single-cell resolution across high-throughput formats.
Founded in 2008, Axion BioSystems (search) has established itself as a leader in electrophysiology platforms for the cell biology community. The company is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, with offices in the Netherlands, the UK, and China, positioning it to support global research initiatives in drug discovery and disease research.