Aligned Bio demonstrates breakthrough single-molecule sensitivity with commercially available DNA sequencing instrument optics

Lund, Sweden – Aligned Bio’s technology platform for nanowire-assisted single-molecule sequencing can eliminate phasing errors and could allow for high-accuracy medium to long read lengths of up to at least 3,000 bases when template amplification is eliminated. Longer reads deliver significant advantages for high‑impact applications within oncology, diagnostics, microbiome analysis, and pathogen detection. 

Aligned Bio has shown that a commercially available benchtop sequencing instrument, originally designed for imaging DNA amplicons, can directly image single DNA molecules when equipped with the company’s nanowire sensor, eliminating the need for amplification of the template. Traditional sequencing by synthesis chemistry relies on template amplification to create enough signal to visualize the sequencing process. 

“With the ability to sequence single molecules we eliminate a source of errors that ultimately limits read length, and additionally allows the preservation of epigenetic marks in the template.” says the company’s CEO, Dr. Kenneth Harlow. 

Aligned Bio’s nanowires act as optical waveguides that efficiently collect fluorescence photons emitted during sequencing reactions and direct them, with defined spatial directionality, toward the instrument’s existing imaging optics. By confining and guiding light from individual molecules into the detection path, the nanowires substantially enhance signal‑to‑noise and enable reliable visualization of single DNA strands using commercially available sequencing hardware. 

“We are very excited about our nanowire-assisted single-molecule sequencing breakthrough, and believe this technology has broad potential - not only in sequencing, but also in high-sensitivity diagnostics, including for example protein biomarker detection and point-of-care applications.” 

Aligned Bio’s abstract titled “Evaluation of nanowire-assisted single molecule sequencing using a prototype microfluidic flowcell and standard sequencing by synthesis chemistry” has been accepted as an E-Poster by the European Society of Human Genetics Conference (ESHG 2026), taking place in Gothenburg, Sweden, June 13-16, 2026. 

References to sequencing methods in this press release are for technical description only and do not imply endorsement or affiliation with any instrument manufacturer. 

 

Contact 
Dr. Kenneth Harlow, CEO +46707770043 kenneth.harlow@alignedbio.com Aligned Bio AB, Ole Römers väg 1, 223 63 Lund, Sweden 

About Aligned Bio 
Aligned Bio AB, founded 2019 in Lund, Sweden is based on research from Lund University and Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden. Aligned Bio develops and markets a nanowire technology platform for single‑molecule detection capability. This ability could enable read lengths up to at least 3,000 bases and up to 200x higher immunoassay sensitivity at 10 – 1,000x lower cost than existing technology. To learn more, visit www.alignedbio.com and connect with us on LinkedIn.

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