Franklin Lakes, N.J.-based medical device company Becton Dickinson & Co. (BD) has acquired Sirigen Group Ltd. for access to its polymer technology, which could be used to develop dyes that are significantly brighter than conventional medical dyes. The dyes are used as reagents for research and diagnostics purposes.

The terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

BD has noted that buying the British company will reduce its profit for the year by 1 cent per share, but it did not reduce its annual net income guidance, which excludes one-time items.

Sirigen was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2000 for its development of a unique class of conductive polymers. This created the foundation for Sirigen’s technology today. Sirigen hopes to use the technology to develop new dyes that are four to ten times brighter than conventional dyes.

“This new technology is a natural complement to our instrument platforms and reagent portfolio,” said Alberto Mas, president of BD Biosciences. “We believe that the acquisition will enable us to develop a continuous cadence of novel, unique dyes and antibody specificity releases over the next two years, significantly expanding our life-science research reagent portfolio with high-impact products.”

Headquartered in Hampshire, United Kingdom, Sirigen produces polymers and dyes with fluorescent capabilities for diagnostic and research purposes.