10x Technology LLC

01.25.13 Laurence Hayward Joins Board of 10x Technology

Bob Pricone — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 19:16:57 +0000

Laurence Hayward has recently been elected to the Board of Directors for 10x Technology. Mr. Hayward serves as a Partner at Independence Equity, a venture capital fund that holds an equity position in 10x Technology. In addition to his work at the Fund, Mr. Hayward is founder/CEO of VentureLab, which advises early-stage companies, and he is co-founder/director of Cornerstone Angels, a private network of angel investors.

10x Technology, LLC (10x) develops and manufactures micro- and nano-structured polymer substrates. 10x’s products range from micro-needle arrays for transdermal drug delivery to Fresnel lenses for solar concentrator systems. The company serves five core segments including Energy, Transportation, Electronics, Government and Medical.

Please follow this link for the full press release.

12.12.12 – Miniaturizing the Laboratory

Bob Pricone — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 21:19:48 +0000

Miniaturizing the Laboratory

Volume 2, Issue 2. December 2012.

Imagine being able to get all your blood work done from the convenience of your home with just a pin prick of your blood! Today’s glucose meters already make this a reality. Advances in microfluidic technology will increase the range of diagnostic capability to many other tests.

Microfluidic biochips, or lab-on-a-chip, integrate multiple laboratory assay operations such as detection, as well as sample pre-treatment and sample preparation on one chip just centimeters in size. This integration leads to unparalleled benefits such as cost reduction, higher throughput, scalability and small footprint/portability.

Technically, Microfluidics is the precise control and manipulation of very small fluid flows, usually in the order of microliters or nanoliters (a drop of water is approximately 25 microliters). The technology emerged in the 1980s and ironically the first successful implementation of the technology was outside the life sciences domain when HP introduced the Thinkjet inkjet printer. Since then, microfluidics has seen significant R&D and advancements in the life sciences field. Applications where Microfluidics are currently used include:

Clinical and veterinary diagnostics: Laboratory equipments for clinical and veterinary diagnostics
Point of care (POC) diagnostics: Out of the lab diagnostic equipments, for near patient testing, intensive care, doctor office.
Pharmaceutical and life sciences research: Principally microfluidic devices for drug discovery, screening
Proteomics, Genomics and Analytical devices such as Microfluidic cartridges for Mass spectrometry, Chromatography and HPLC sample preparation
Industrial and environmental testing: Microfluidic-based tests for quality and process control, water testing (pesticides, bacteria, etc.). This also includes military and security applications
Drug delivery: Microfluidic devices for drug delivery, such as inhalers, microneedles, implantable micropumps

The microfluidics market is expected to grow over 20% in the next five years reaching $4 billion by 2016. Two applications driving market expansion include point-of-care (POC) diagnostics and pharmaceutical research. Drug discovery was the first microfluidics market, and has continued to grow significantly. However, the largest growth is expected in the field of Point of Care diagnostics.

Point of Care diagnostics allows for near patient/home testing. As a microfluidic device integrates multiple laboratory functions onto one chip in a small size this allows researchers to experiment on tiny sample sizes, and also to simultaneously perform multiple experiments on the same material. They could lead to instant home tests for illnesses, food contaminants and toxic gases, among other advances.

The technology has demonstrated strong potential to transform the R&D, and commercialization of life sciences through miniaturization of POC diagnostics as well as a range of other applications such as proteomics, genomics and drug discovery. A key issue in broader adoption is scalability and access to high volume, low cost manufacturing that will take these products from the research laboratory to real-life commercial clinical applications.

At 10x, we have used our microreplication technology to design, master, tool and manufacture Microfluidic arrays in a range of commercially available polymers that could be used in POC diagnostics. We have supplied prototypes to several companies for testing and we stand ready to support their needs to scale up production when needed using our contract manufacturing platform.

The 10x continuous manufacturing process is capable of producing precision Microfluidic arrays (see table for tolerances) in large volumes at a low cost – this would be hundreds of millions of Microfluidic arrays today with potential to scale up as the industry requires.

We join many of others in the life sciences community who are anxious to see this promising technology commercialized. For additional information on 10x Microfluidics technology, please contact Laurence Hayward at lhayward@10xtechnology.com or at (312) 508-3174.

Sources: 1. Microfluidic Substrates Market & Processing trends, Yole Development, 2012
2. Emerging Markets for Microfluidic Applications, Yole Development 2009
3. Microfluidics Meets its Market, Megan M. Stephen, The Scientist, 2005

08.21.12 – Scaling Up the Manufacture of Microneedle Arrays

Bob Pricone — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 20:24:55 +0000

Breakthrough in Drug Delivery

Scaling Up the Manufacture of Microneedle Arrays

Whether you’ve received a flu vaccine or an injection of pain-killer, you’ve experienced a long needle puncturing some part of your body. What if you could receive the same drug by application of a tiny patch on your arm? Imagine the benefit to those people who require frequent shots to simply receive a small self-applied patch instead. Imagine elderly patients not having to remember which pills to take. Imagine the potential for more efficient and less costly vaccinations worldwide, particularly for those in need of aid. Microneedle transdermal patches may enable all these possibilities.

10x Technology was recently invited to deliver a presentation at the 2nd Annual Microneedle Drug Delivery Conference held in Cork, Ireland from May 12-15, 2012. It was a fascinating and well-organized event attended by leaders in the field of drug delivery from around the world. The Conference explored the use of Microneedles, typically in the form of a transdermal patch, for the effective delivery of a wide range of drugs. The potential advantages of this delivery technique over conventional methods include the following:

avoids pain associated with parenteral injections;
provides a convenient and easy-to-use format (including extended dosing periods);
has a form factor that is more efficient to distribute, use and dispose (avoiding reuse issues);
may avoid side effects associated with oral administration;
and potentially can be manufactured for less cost relative to conventional needles.

Microneedles in the form of a transdermal patch open up a wide range of possibilities from the simple and convenient delivery of a single drug to what are seemingly “science fiction” possibilities. Imagine a patch on your arm that could read what is going on inside your body and deliver the precise amount of drug you need without any intervention on your part – an invaluable device for a diabetic who regularly pricks for glucose levels and must administer insulin shots.

In the event you are asking why conventional transdermal patches without Microneedles can’t be used to deliver these drugs the answer is quite simple. Our skin functions to keeping foreign molecules out. The molecule size of a significant number of drugs we humans (and animals too) need is too large to effectively transfer through the skin with conventional patches. A patch with tiny Microneedles penetrates the skin just enough to enable the drug to enter the bloodstream, but not so far as to create the pain and inconvenience associated with hypodermic needles.

So, what’s keeping this science fiction from becoming reality? A significant amount of testing has already been done. A number of early-drug candidates have been identified and are at various stages of pre-clinical and clinical trials. Of course, like any drug delivery device, the testing is extensive and requires considerable time and investment. A key outstanding issue remaining is scalability. Most of the microneedle arrays used in testing have been produced at labscale in small quantities out of expensive materials. What is needed is a manufacturing process technology that can ensure consistent and precision replication of large quantities of Microneedles and it must do so at an acceptable economic value proposition.

This is the subject matter that 10x was asked to present at the Microneedle Conference in Cork. At 10x, we have used our microreplication technology to design, master, tool andmanufacture Microneedles in a range of commercially -available polymers that could be used in transdermal drug delivery patches. We have supplied prototype samples to several companies for testing and we stand ready to support their needs to scale up production when needed under our contract manufacturing platform. The 10x process is capable of producing precision Microneedles (see table for tolerances) in large volumes at a low cost – this would be hundreds of millions of Microneedle patches today with potential to scale up as the industry requires. We join many of others in the life sciences community who are anxious to see this promising technology commercialized.

For additional information on 10x Microneedle technology, please contact Laurence Hayward at lhayward@10xtechnology.com or at (312) 508-3174. A copy of the presentation delivered in Cork is also available as are sample Microneedle arrays.

04.20.12 New Off-the-Shelf Acrylic Lens Panels Improve Value, Bypass Tooling Process

Bob Pricone — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 15:00:52 +0000

Evonik Cyro LLC is launching the first optical train package, ACRYLITE^® Solar Pre-Fab lens panels, for Concentrated Photovoltaic (CPV) modules saving customers tooling costs and manufacturing time using lenses manufactured by 10x Technology and EVONIK Cyro. These lens panels take advantage of the precision tooling and prescription replication capability of 10x Technology LLC, a developer of micro-structured polymer products.

For details follow link here. Press Release

05.14.12 10x presents at Microneedle Drug Delivery Conference in Ireland

Bob Pricone — Thu, 17 May 2012 00:54:05 +0000

10x Advisor Laurence Hayward was invited to speak at the 2^nd Annual Microneedle Drug Delivery Conference held in Cork, Ireland from May 12-15, 2012. The Conference aims to explore the use of Microneedles, typically in the form of a patch, for the effective delivery of a range of drugs. The potential advantages of this delivery technique is it avoids the pain associated with hypodermic needles, provides a convenient and easy-to-use format including extended dosing periods, has a form factor that is more efficient to distribute, use and dispose of (avoiding reuse issues) and potentially can be manufactured for less cost relative to conventional needles. Hayward’s presentation specifically addressed how to make microneedle technology scalable using efficient, high volume manufacturing techniques. More on the Conference can be found at www.microneedles.ie. A copy of the presentation is also available upon request to lkh@theventurelab.com.

10x selected to present at 2nd Annual Microneedle Conference in Ireland

Bob Pricone — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 22:30:54 +0000

The organizing committee of the 2nd Annual International Conference on Microneedles selected 10x to deliver a technical presentation on methods for the design and manufacture of microneedle arrays. The Conference is hosted by the Tyndall National Institute, the University College Cork and a committee comprising academic and corporate leaders in the field of Microneedles. Microneedles are a promising emerging technology for the transdermal delivery of drugs. It is highly multidisciplinary, requiring input from all biomedical, scientific and engineering disciplines, together with relevant pharmaceutical, clinical and regulatory expertise. An abstract of the presentation is available upon request to lhayward@10xtechnnology.com.

10x and EVONIK Expand Solar Lens Production Capacity

Bob Pricone — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 14:39:39 +0000

In response to a growing demand for solar energy products 10x Technology strategic partner, Evonik Cyro, has expanded its continuous roll-to-roll solar lens panel manufacturing line at its Sanford, Maine facility.

For details follow link here. Press Release

10x attends first annual Microneedle Conference in Atlanta

Bob Pricone — Mon, 24 May 2010 19:01:54 +0000

10x meets with industry leaders commercializing next generation transdermal patches for drug delivery. www.microneedles.gatech.edu

10x attends LightFair 2010 in Las Vegas

Bob Pricone — Mon, 10 May 2010 19:01:08 +0000

New Diffusing Panel for Flourescent downlight applications is demonstrated by Evonik. www.lightfair.com

Evonik, 10X Technology Form Photovoltaic Manufacturing Alliance

Bob Pricone — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:59:55 +0000

Customers To Benefit From Innovative Products; Stronger, Enhanced Supply Chain.

Press release
Evonik, 10X Technology Form Photovoltaic Manufacturing Alliance

PARSIPPANY, N. J., February 4, 2010
Customers To Benefit From Innovative Products; Stronger, Enhanced Supply Chain

Evonik Cyro LLC, a leading manufacturer of acrylic sheet and molding compounds, and bulk and performance monomers, and 10X Technology LLC, an emerging company that develops micro- and nano-structured polymer substrates, are forming an alliance to commercialize novel materials for the photovoltaic market.

The companies will initially focus on co-developing lenses that improve the performance of a range of energy-related products from solar energy systems to interior lighting.

“By combining Evonik’s global manufacturing capabilities and materials expertise with 10X’s capabilities to produce highly precise micro-structures, we enable a wide array of functionally-enhanced products,” said John Rolando, President of Evonik Cyro LLC and Head of Performance Polymers North America. “Our acrylic products including Acrylite® can now include structural elements designed to perform specific functions, such as concentrating sunlight in a solar cell system or improving the quality of overhead lighting in an office environment. We’re excited about the range of possibilities that this alliance creates.”

Among the products that the companies will co-develop are solar concentrator lenses, which improve the efficiency of solar cell systems by focusing sunlight on a selected area of semiconductor material. Concentrated Photovoltaics (CPV) is a rapidly emerging field within the solar industry and is expected to increase conversion effectiveness and the relative energy output for a given area of space.

“One of the great challenges for industry today is to increase the relative efficiency of the material we produce and consume,” said Bob Pricone, President of 10X Technology. “Plastic or glass can function as the exterior surface of a solar cell system, but just imagine if that same surface could also concentrate sunlight. In the same dimensional space, we could increase energy production by several multiples. This is a great example of how to improve the efficiency of renewable energy sources while also reducing the carbon footprint. We are excited to be working with Evonik.”

Through the alliance, Evonik and 10X will optimize the photovoltaic lens production process from polymer to the finished lens – providing seamless, one stop shopping for customers.

Evonik and 10X will also provide a stronger warranty. “For us, the warranty is not only what’s written on paper, but the experienced and knowledgeable people behind it,” Rolando added. “Our warranty is something other companies cannot duplicate.”

For additional information about Evonik Industries in North America, please visit our website: www.evonik.com/north-america.

10X also has ongoing development efforts for applications of micro and nano-structured polymer substrates in other industries including medical/consumer health, electronics, energy, government/military and transportation.
About Evonik

Evonik Industries is the creative industrial group from Germany which operates in three business areas: Chemicals, Energy and Real Estate. Evonik is a global leader in specialty chemicals, an expert in power generation from hard coal and renewable energies, and one of the largest private residential real estate companies in Germany. Our strengths are creativity, specialization, continuous self-renewal, and reliability. Evonik is active in over 100 countries around the world. In its fiscal year 2008 about 41,000 employees generated sales of about Euro 15.9 billion and an operating profit (EBITDA) of more than Euro 2.2 billion.

About 10X Technology

10X Technology develops and manufactures micro and nano-structured polymer substrates. Applications range from concentrator lens that improve the efficiency of solar systems to microneedle arrays for transdermal drug delivery. The company’s strength is replicating highly precise designs into a wide variety of polymer films and sheeting. The company’s processing technologies permit both rapid prototyping and high volume, continuous manufacturing. The company is headquartered in Libertyville, IL, a suburb of Chicago.

Disclaimer

In so far as forecasts or expectations are expressed in this press release or where our statements concern the future, these forecasts, expectations or statements may involve known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results or developments may vary, depending on changes in the operating environment. Neither Evonik Industries AG nor its group companies assume any obligation to update the forecasts, expectations or statements contained in this release.