Cardea Bio

The core of Cardea Bio's business is the mass production of a biocompatible semiconductor known as the Biosignal Processing Unit (BPU™). This proprietary technology is a graphene-based biological field-effect transistor (BioFET) that can translate real-time biological signals into digital information. Unlike traditional silicon chips, the BPU's graphene composition allows it to directly interface with biological molecules, enabling the detection of multiomics signals without the need for the optical or amplification methods common in life sciences. This capability facilitates rapid, real-time analysis of biomolecular interactions, a significant speed advantage over conventional methods like Isothermal Titration Calorimetry (ITC). The company's business model centers on its "Cardea Innovation Partnership Program," offering its BPU platform and chipsets to partners for developing new applications.

The firm serves a broad array of industries, including human health, molecular diagnostics, agriculture, environmental monitoring, and animal health. For instance, its CRISPR-Chip, a specific application of the BPU, is designed to search genomes for specific sites without cutting DNA, functioning like a search engine for genetic material. The company has secured over $21.8 million in funding across multiple rounds from investors such as Agilent, Serra Ventures, and the Gates Foundation. A significant milestone occurred in May 2023 when Cardea Bio was acquired by Paragraf, a UK-based company specializing in the mass production of graphene electronics. Following the acquisition, Cardea Bio was rebranded as Paragraf USA. This merger combines Cardea's expertise in biosensor design with Paragraf's scaled manufacturing capabilities, aiming to accelerate the development and deployment of handheld, real-time biosensing devices.