Izon Science
Corporate brand
UnclaimedIzon Science is a New Zealand nanotechnology company that develops instruments and consumables for nanoparticle analysis, separation, and extracellular-vesicle research.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Izon Science Limited is a New Zealand nanotechnology and life-science instrumentation company focused on measuring, isolating, and processing particles at the nano- and microscale. Its principal technologies are tunable resistive pulse sensing (TRPS) instruments and size-exclusion chromatography products used to work with extracellular vesicles, nanoparticles, viruses, virus-like particles, lipid nanoparticles, vaccines, antibody preparations, and related biological materials. The company was incorporated on 10 January 2005 under the name Australo Ltd. by four New Zealand-based scientists. In 2007, Hans van der Voorn became chief executive, and the company adopted the name Izon Science Limited on 17 November 2008. Its early commercial emphasis was nanoparticle characterization using TRPS, a single-particle measurement method in which particles passing through a nanopore produce temporary changes in ionic current. The size, frequency, and movement of these electrical signals provide information about particle size, concentration, and zeta potential. Izon’s product portfolio subsequently broadened from measurement into particle isolation. Its qEV size-exclusion chromatography columns are designed to separate extracellular vesicles and other particles from smaller molecules and contaminants in biological samples. The columns use porous resin: larger particles pass through the column earlier, while smaller molecules enter the resin pores and elute later. The qEV platform is used in academic research and by diagnostics developers investigating extracellular-vesicle biomarkers and sample-preparation workflows. An Automatic Fraction Collector can automate the collection of selected fractions, improving repeatability and supporting higher-throughput workflows. The company’s TRPS portfolio has included the qNano, qMicro, and qViro-X instruments. The Exoid, introduced as the successor to these earlier systems, automates several operations that previously required manual adjustment on the qNano, including nanopore stretch, pressure, and voltage-related settings. It is designed to measure individual particles across an approximate range from 40 nanometres to 10 micrometres, depending on the measurement configuration and nanopore used. Izon also supplies nanopores, calibration particles, fluid cells, column racks, and complementary sample-preparation products. These include an RNA extraction kit made for Izon by Norgen Biotek and a concentration kit using Ceres NanoSciences Nanotrap extracellular-vesicle particles. Together, the products address workflows that begin with biological sample preparation and continue through particle isolation, quantification, characterization, and downstream molecular analysis. Izon’s customers and collaborators include academic laboratories, biotechnology companies, diagnostics developers, and organizations working in nanomedicine and biologics research. Reported research relationships include the University Medical Center Utrecht, VU University Medical Center, Mayo Clinic, the National Institutes of Health, and Massachusetts General Hospital. The company has received investment from Bolton Equities, a privately funded New Zealand investment group. Its instruments are manufactured in Christchurch, and in June 2021 the company moved its headquarters from Burnside to a larger facility at Show Place in Addington. The company was reported to employ approximately 70 people at the time of the referenced material.
History
Izon Science began as Australo Ltd., incorporated in New Zealand on 10 January 2005 by four New Zealand-based scientists. The business was established around the development of scientific tools capable of characterizing nanoscale particles, an area requiring measurements that conventional laboratory instruments could not easily provide. In 2007, Hans van der Voorn became chief executive. On 17 November 2008, the company changed its name to Izon Science Limited. The company’s initial technical focus was tunable resistive pulse sensing. In TRPS, individual particles pass through a nanopore immersed in an electrically conductive liquid. Each passage briefly changes the ionic current, creating a blockade signal. The magnitude of the signal relates to particle size, the event rate indicates concentration, and particle transit behavior can be used to assess electrokinetic properties such as zeta potential. Izon commercialized this approach through instruments including the qNano, which became its main TRPS platform after its release in June 2009. The qMicro and qViro-X were additional instruments aimed at related particle-analysis applications. The qNano required a comparatively hands-on operating process. Users manually adjusted nanopore stretch and pressure, while software controlled selected electrical parameters. Subsequent product development introduced additional pressure-readout functionality and other refinements. Izon later developed the Exoid as a more automated successor. The Exoid incorporates automated control of nanopore stretch, pressure, and voltage-related operating conditions, reducing the amount of manual tuning required by the earlier platform. Izon expanded beyond particle measurement into particle isolation and sample preparation. Its qEV columns use size-exclusion chromatography to separate extracellular vesicles and other larger particles from smaller biomolecules. The columns are available for different particle-size ranges and sample-loading volumes. The qEV Automatic Fraction Collector adds programmable collection, using a carousel and weight-based monitoring to distinguish buffer or void volume from the fractions of interest. The column and collector together form an isolation platform intended to make extracellular-vesicle preparation more consistent and scalable. This expansion aligned the company with the growing use of extracellular vesicles in biomarker research, diagnostics development, and therapeutic investigation. Izon’s tools are also used in research involving viruses, virus-like particles, lipid nanoparticles, vaccines, antibody preparations, and nanomedicine. Its broader offering includes nanopores, calibration particles, fluid cells, storage racks, RNA-extraction products, and concentration products intended to complement isolation and measurement workflows. The company has reported research relationships with organizations including the University Medical Center Utrecht, VU University Medical Center, Mayo Clinic, the National Institutes of Health, and Massachusetts General Hospital. It has also received investment from Bolton Equities, a privately funded New Zealand investor group. Manufacturing has remained based in Christchurch. In June 2021, Izon moved its headquarters from Burnside to a larger Show Place facility in Addington, where its instruments are manufactured. The referenced material describes the company as having approximately 70 employees and serving academic, biotechnology, diagnostics, and nanomedicine users internationally.
- 2021
Exoid introduced as a newer TRPS platform
[1]The Exoid succeeded earlier Izon instruments and added automated control of several measurement settings.
- 2021
Christchurch headquarters relocated
[1]Izon moved from Burnside to a larger Show Place facility in Addington in June 2021.
- 2009
qNano introduced
[1]The qNano became Izon’s principal tunable resistive pulse sensing instrument after its release in June 2009.
- 2008
Company renamed Izon Science Limited
[1]The company changed its name from Australo Ltd. to Izon Science Limited on 17 November 2008.
- 2007
Hans van der Voorn becomes chief executive
[1]Hans van der Voorn became CEO as the company developed its commercial nanotechnology activities.
- 2005
Company incorporated as Australo Ltd.
[1]Australo Ltd. was incorporated in New Zealand on 10 January 2005 by four New Zealand-based scientists.
Products and positioning
A specialist scientific-instrumentation brand providing integrated tools for nanoparticle measurement, extracellular-vesicle isolation, and biological particle research.
Tunable resistive pulse sensing instrument · 2021
Exoid
The Exoid is Izon’s newer TRPS instrument for measuring individual particles by detecting ionic-current changes as they pass through a nanopore. It is designed to characterize particle size, concentration, and zeta potential across an approximate particle range of 40 nm to 10 micrometres. Compared with the earlier qNano, the Exoid automates nanopore stretch, pressure, and voltage-related operating adjustments through its software and instrument controls.
Tunable resistive pulse sensing instrument · 2009
qNano
The qNano was Izon’s original major TRPS platform and remained its principal instrument from its June 2009 release until the Exoid replaced it as the newer generation. It measures nanoscale and microscale particles through nanopore-based resistive pulse sensing. Earlier configurations required users to adjust nanopore stretch and electrokinetic pressure manually, with later updates adding features such as a pressure readout module.
Size-exclusion chromatography columns
qEV columns
qEV columns isolate extracellular vesicles and other larger particles from biological samples through size-exclusion chromatography. Their porous resin allows smaller molecules to enter pores and elute later, while larger vesicles and particles pass through more directly. The range covers different particle-size windows and sample-loading volumes, supporting applications in extracellular-vesicle research, biomarker development, diagnostics, and related biological-particle workflows.
Automated sample-collection equipment
qEV Automatic Fraction Collector
The qEV Automatic Fraction Collector automates fraction collection from qEV columns. Its programmable carousel holds collection tubes, while weight-based monitoring helps identify buffer and purified sample fractions and advances the collection sequence. It is intended to improve reproducibility and scalability in extracellular-vesicle isolation, and multiple units can be operated in parallel for increased throughput.
Extracellular-vesicle sample-preparation kit
qEV RNA Extraction Kit
The qEV RNA Extraction Kit is supplied for extracting RNA from extracellular vesicles isolated through Izon workflows. The kit is manufactured for Izon by Norgen Biotek and can be used as part of a broader qEV isolation and downstream molecular-analysis process.
Extracellular-vesicle concentration kit
qEV Concentration Kit
The qEV Concentration Kit is intended to concentrate extracellular vesicles after isolation with qEV columns. It uses Ceres NanoSciences Nanotrap extracellular-vesicle particles and may be combined with the qEV RNA Extraction Kit or used independently, depending on the downstream research workflow.
Brand decisions
2021
Introduce the Exoid as the next-generation TRPS instrumentProduct launchBackground
The earlier qNano platform relied on several manual operating adjustments, including nanopore stretch and pressure control.
Action taken
Izon developed and introduced the Exoid with automated adjustment of key measurement parameters and an enhanced voltage-clamp amplifier.
Aftermath
The Exoid became the company’s latest TRPS instrument and succeeded the qViro-X, qMicro, and qNano platforms.
2021
Move to a larger Christchurch facilityStrategyBackground
The company required a larger site for its headquarters and manufacturing operations.
Action taken
Izon relocated from Burnside to Show Place in Addington, Christchurch, in June 2021.
Aftermath
The Addington site became the company’s headquarters and instrument-manufacturing location.
Recent events
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