Biozoom Inc.

The Biozoom scanner – a portable, handheld device for noninvasive transdermal analysis of antioxidants and other biomarkers in the human body – from Biozoom Inc. of Agoura Hills, Calif., and Kassel, Germany, has been used by researchers at the Charité Berlin medical school and the University of Rostock in Germany to investigate workplace stress. The scanner was used to measure antioxidants in the skin of seven midwives, who were selected because of their nighttime shift work, which reportedly raises stress. The results showed a correlation between stress intensity and a decline in the midwives’ antioxidative status, suggesting that antioxidative status may be adversely affected by shift work.

Biozoom is currently looking for licensees or other partners for its patented mobile spectroscopy technology. The company’s first commercial product is a handheld scanner for real-time spectroscopic analysis of biomarkers in the human body, such as antioxidant levels. The intellectual property behind the technology could have applications in optics, nanofiltration and database management, among others, Biozoom said. The additional revenue from its intellectual property is expected to allow the company to develop new applications for its core handheld and nanoscale spectroscopy business.