The British nanotech firm, Oxonica, announced this week it is buying Mountain View, California-based Nanoplex. The cost of the deal is estimated at between $18 million and $21 million, depending on the future value of Oxonica stock. Nanoplex develops nanotech health care applications including disease marker identification, as well as homeland security applications like chemical and Biological weapon detectors. Oxonica markets nanomaterials for use in cosmetics and fuel additives. The merged companies, to work under the Oxonica banner, plan to expand into the field of food contamination testing as well. The deal gives Oxonica, an Oxford University spinoff, its first foothold in the burgeoning US nanomaterials market. more @ oxonica.com