NanOptical Biomedical Inc., a biotechnology company working on next-generation contrast agents for photoacoustic imaging, has started operations at the Endeavor incubator in Innovation Park, Manassas. The company will manufacture SonoVanta™, a patent-pending contrast agent that improves the precision of cancer margin imaging, supporting more accurate biopsies and tumor removal.
SonoVanta™ originated from research conducted at George Mason University and will be commercially available in the fall of 2026 as an advanced tool for cell, tissue, and organ imaging, with applications across numerous areas of biomedical research and development. The company will seek FDA approval to expand the technology’s use in surgical oncology, with the goal of optimizing visualization of breast tumor margins during cancer procedures.
Photoacoustic imaging combines laser light and ultrasound to produce high-resolution views of tissue. The effectiveness of the technology depends in part on contrast agents that enhance the visibility of diseased tissue. SonoVanta™ was created to address one of the biggest barriers to the broader adoption of photoacoustic imaging: biocompatibility and scalable manufacturing.
“By using an FDA-approved near-infrared dye, we devised a platform that enables disease-specific targeting and makes manufacturing and implementation easier,” said Parag Chitnis, professor of bioengineering at George Mason. “NanOptical Biomedical was formed to translate a strong university innovation into a commercially viable platform with meaningful market potential.”
NanOptical Biomedical licensed the technology from George Mason through the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation’s Lab-to-Launch program, which accelerates the commercialization of promising research breakthroughs emerging from Virginia’s universities.
“Eight years ago, Dr. Chitnis and I were standing in front of a whiteboard tossing ideas back and forth,” said Remi Veneziano, associate professor of bioengineering at George Mason. “We’re excited to watch this technology grow from an idea into a new biotechnology company.”
NanOptical Biomedical chose Prince William County’s Endeavor incubator to stay close to George Mason and the region’s thriving life sciences and biotechnology hub. The company is joining Nexus234, Northern Virginia’s first innovation district, which Real FDI named one of the Top 10 Life Sciences Projects globally in March 2026.
John Hart, president and CEO of NanOptical Biomedical emphasizes how the company represents an important milestone in bringing university-developed technology into research and clinical imaging.
“Our initial focus is to serve research customers in academia, biotech, and the pharmaceutical sector, while also pursuing the regulatory pathway for future clinical applications in surgical oncology,” said Hart. “We believe SonoVanta™ offers a valuable solution to deliver more precise imaging and address a critical need in cancer care.”
NanOptical Biomedical’s establishment in Nexus234 reinforces the region’s commitment to cultivating an ecosystem that helps translate research and entrepreneurship into company success and job creation.
“NanOptical Biomedical is exactly the kind of company our Endeavor incubator was created to attract and empower,” said Christina Winn, executive director of the Prince William County Department of Economic Development and Tourism. “This achievement reflects over three decades of intention from Prince William County and underscores the strength of Nexus234’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and the environment for startups, research commercialization, and the life sciences industry.”
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