"These acquisitions, when combined with the license from Georgia Tech, provide Invitrogen with a significant intellectual property position and robust platform for product development based on advanced inorganic materials science for molecular detection," said Invitrogen's general manager of molecular probes, Augie Sick, in a company statement.
Invitrogen did not disclose the terms of the two acquisitions and the license agreement.
Quantum Dot offers biomolecular labeling and detection using its Quantum Dot semi-conductur nanocrystals, which emit bright light in a range of colors. BioPixels provides coatings and metal alloys for semi-conductor nanocrystals. Combining the two technologies will allow the creation of improved particles, according to Invitrogen.
The agreement with Georgia Tech gives the company access to nanoclusters that permit "true single molecule detection and representing another rapproach to the next generation of high sensitivity labeling and detection applications."
Further, Invitrogen said it has closed its acquisition of Biosource International. In July, the company announced its plan to purchase Biosource, a provider of proteins, antibodies, and other reagents, for $130 million in cash.