During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the global demand for rapid, accurate and accessible testing underscored the critical role of diagnostics in public health. At that pivotal time, researchers at the University of Minnesota were quietly advancing a promising new approach to virus detection—one that would soon become the foundation for Magtection’s platform technology.
Originally known as MagiCoil, the technology was developed around a novel diagnostic method using magnetic nanoparticle spectroscopy and its potential to deliver fast, low-cost and user-friendly testing in diverse settings—without the need for multiple steps or specialized laboratory conditions.
The U of M highlighted the innovation in features published by both the College of Science and Engineering and the Research and Innovation Office, showcasing its timeliness and commercial promise amid the unfolding pandemic. Check the Research and Innovation Office’s news item here.
In the two years following those features, the technology progressed rapidly. Magtection successfully secured a U.S. patent for its single-step, wash-free detection method using MPS—a breakthrough capable of identifying the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in less than 5 minutes. This milestone marked a significant step toward making advanced, field-deployable diagnostics more widely available for both human and animal diseases.
Magtection’s origins in academic research continue to inform its mission today: delivering robust, portable and multiplexed testing solutions where and when they are needed most.