D3 Technologies Ltd is a molecular diagnostics company which uses the highly selective and sensitive techniques of surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and surface enhanced resonance Raman scattering (SERRS) to produce diagnostic products with superior detection capability.

It was formed in July 2007 by combining world class expertise from the University of Strathclyde on specific chemistry and colloidal detection methods for SERS/SERRS with Klarite, a leading substrate for SERS/SERRS acquired from Mesophotonics. The company is backed by spectroscopic expertise from leading Raman spectrometer manufacturer Renishaw plc. This combination of skills gives the company a unique base to develop new, effective and reliable SERS/SERRS based products.

To ensure the success of D3, Renishaw plc has invested cash and instrumentation, with a combined value of approximately £5M over the next five years and the company has a strong portfolio of key patents. D3 has 7 full time staff and is expected to more than double in size within the next two years.

The new technology is known to have enormous potential and a hallmark of D3 is that this potential can be delivered in reliable products. Quantitative and sensitive detection of a range of biomarkers using patented chemistry and colloidal suspensions has been demonstrated and Klarite is an innovative nanostructured material which delivers a high level of reproducibility across the surface.

D3 technology allows several disease markers such as oligonucleotides to be detected in a single sample and the major product line is concentrated on DNA based diagnostics. However, Klarite is already recognised as very effective substrate for SERS/SERRS detection and the addition of Strathclyde chemistry strengthens this position. As a result, D3 makes products for the detection of minute traces of chemicals mainly for the security and forensic markets.