Good science without harmful chemicals: VerdiBlot aims to become a global laboratory standard
Roberto Fernandez, COO at LAM-X, a.s.
VerdiBlot is an essential part of a research technique called Western blotting. The membrane acts like a sheet of printing paper where scientists imprint all the proteins inside a cell. Scientists can then selectively make individual proteins visible, helping them understand diseases, and study how cells respond to treatments. This new universal Western blot membrane combines high sensitivity, low background, and mechanical strength with full biodegradability. As a result, it can save research teams weeks of work and the cost of expensive antibodies, while also offering a way to remove problematic PFAS and microplastics from laboratory practice. You can learn more about this technology in an interview with Roberto Fernandez of LAM, a.s., the company that developed it.
If you had to explain VerdiBlot to a high school student or a friend, what exactly is it, why do we need it, and what problem does it solve?
VerdiBlot works as printing paper for proteins. The difference is that you “print” all the proteins with “invisible ink”, and then you can choose to see the specific protein of interest. Being able to see specific proteins can help us diagnose a disease or comprehend the exact mechanism by which some drugs cause side effects.
In the world of biology, what is a "Western Blot" and why is it so crucial for modern medicine?
Western blotting is the gold standard for protein analysis; it is how we confirm the presence of a protein or detect small modifications such as phosphorylation.
Why is VerdiBlot better than the technology that has been in use to date?
VerdiBlot is considered a universal Western blot membrane. It combines the low background typically associated with nitrocellulose membranes with the mechanical strength that allows stripping and reprobing, which distinguishes polyvinylidene fluoride membranes. It provides a high-quality signal for chemiluminescence and fluorescence detection. Essentially, it is a “can do it all” membrane with the added benefit of being biodegradable.
You mention it is 100% biodegradable. Why is "Green Science" a big deal right now?
It is now common knowledge that microplastics contaminate our ecosystem and even our bodies. Even worse, some of these microplastics come from forever chemicals or PFAS, which are extremely hard to remove. The need to remove this from the supply chain is everyone’s responsibility, from suppliers to users. We aim to give users an alternative that is of the highest quality without any environmental downsides. We believe that good science shouldn’t come at the expense of using harmful chemicals.
VerdiBlot gives you a signal-to-noise ratio to help you detect low-abundance proteins. This can save weeks of work and thousands of dollars in expensive antibodies.
ROBERTO FERNANDEZ
Incubation Manager at i&i Prague, COO at LAM-X, a.s.
How does using VerdiBlot save time or money for a research team?
A Western Blot can turn out bad for multiple reasons. The last thing you should worry about is your membrane. VerdiBlot gives you a signal-to-noise ratio to help you detect low-abundance proteins. This can save weeks of work and thousands of dollars in expensive antibodies.
Can you give a real-world example? Is there a field (e.g., Alzheimer’s, Vaccines) where this makes a difference?
The sensitivity and quality of the membrane can have a real impact on the Western blot, especially when the technique is used for the diagnosis of specific diseases, where confirmation can change a person’s life (HIV, Lyme disease, and various autoimmune diseases).
What is the "Big Dream" for VerdiBlot?
We want VerdiBlot to become a global standard for Western blot. We want to make such an impact on the field that scientists will turn only to PVDF membranes for specific niche cases. With this, we will have a huge impact on the health of the environment and people by reducing PFAS levels.