Revolutionising Substance Testing Enabled By Australia’s Fabrication Capabilities

2026_05

Australian deep-tech, NanoFynd, is transforming chemical detection with its patented lab‑on‑a‑chip platform and support from the ANFF network. The rapid, confirmation-grade chemical screening technology delivers lab-quality results from biological and environmental samples within minutes.

NanoFynd’s next-generation nanostructured system provides accurate detection of substances such as PFAS, agricultural chemicals and illicit drugs. The technology is non-invasive and reduces reliance on complex laboratory workflows, allowing professionals to quickly and reliably perform testing across a range of real-world applications such as environmental monitoring, agriculture, and workplace safety.

Aditi Dhawan, NanoFynd Co-Founder and CEO, attributes the Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF) network as being essential for turning their early scientific concept into a field-ready solution.

Aditi said "the ability to prototype, iterate, and scale with access to world-class facilities is a major reason Australian deep-tech ventures like ours can move quickly from research to real-world application. Our work relies on precision fabrication, materials expertise, and specialised support across the entire network, from ANFF-C, to ANFF South Australia, to the Melbourne Centre for Nanofabrication, each playing a critical role at different stages of our development."

Access to the world-class facilities and experts at ANFF-SA and ANFF-VIC were crucial to the speed of early prototype creation.

At ANFF-SA, novel approaches were employed at Adelaide University’s Mawson Lakes campus. Including 3D printed conductive polymer components and additive manufactured glass-filled resin tools for injection moulding which greatly reduced the prototyping to scaleup phase. Finally, moulds were also fabricated using traditional micro machining. Whereas the patented nanostructured silicon chips that form the platform’s core were developed at ANFF-VIC’s Melbourne Centre for Nanofabrication utilising their porous silicon etching system and dicing saw.

Aditi said “it’s encouraging to see continued investment and collaboration across this network. Strong fabrication capability is not just an enabler, it is a strategic advantage for Australian innovation.”

ANFF-SA Node Director, Prof Craig Priest said “ANFF’s network is game-changing for Australian companies like Nanofynd. The entirety of ANFF’s world-class facilities and expertise is uniquely connected to deliver complex devices for Australian innovators.”

ANFF-VIC Node Director, Prof Nicolas Voelcker said “NanoFynd is a prime example of the ANFF Network’s strength and ability to support R&D projects by leveraging specialised fabrication capabilities across multiple nodes.”

Another key area within the ANFF Network is ANFF-C which helps turn breakthrough ideas into commercial success by uniting funding, expertise and networks. Access to ANFF-C has provided vital support at a pivotal stage of development for NanoFynd, as they expand their field-ready solutions.

ANFF is a research infrastructure facility established under the Commonwealth’s National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS). The ANFF network provides researchers and industry with open access to state-of-the-art micro and nanofabrication facilities and support from world-leading experts across 8 Australian Nodes.

South Australian node of the Australian National Fabrication Facility, co-located at Flinders University and Adelaide University.

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