A protein microarray, in the form of a compact biochip, that can be analyzed with high sensitivity using GC-FP technology.
Some infectious diseases are easy to diagnose, but others are much more difficult. One example is Lyme disease (B. burgdorferi), which is caused by a slow-growing organism that takes many weeks to detect. Current testing is sub-optimal and confusing due to a high false negative rate; patients may be quite ill but appear normal on testing, and physicians may elect not to treat with multiple weeks of antibiotics. A lot rides on accurate, timely diagnosis and treatment; untreated Lyme disease can cause severe neurologic and cardiac issues. Another example is COVID-19, where PCR testing has proven to be problematic due to shortages of reagents, long wait times for results, and complicated findings of both false positives and false negatives; all of these mitigate against implementation of the kind of disease management regimen we need to contain the virus, treat patients and monitor treatment progress.
Ciencia has developed a grating-coupled fluorescence plasmonics (GC-FP) instrument that enhances a fluorescent signal on a sensor chip, allowing very small quantities (microliters) of blood to produce a strong signal. The sensor uses established nanofabrication techniques which are comparable in cost and complexity to a CD or DVD. This system can detect one biomarker, or dozens of biomarkers, simultaneously; and it can do this accurately in under 30 minutes.
Researchers at SUNY Polytechnic Institute have created biochips for detection of Lyme disease and COVID-19 which, together with Ciencia’s GC-FP instrument, have increased diagnostic sensitivity beyond what is currently available. This combination of biochips and GC-FP reader is highly effective for detecting and differentiating multiple antibody isotypes (including IgG, IgM and IgA) and is amenable to direct antigen/infectious agent detection.
Further Details:
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https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.09.02.20187070v2
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https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0956566320306680
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https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0228772
• Rapid
• High-content
• Inexpensive
• Sensitive
• Flexible
This system has been developed to test the presence of antibodies associated with Lyme and COVID-19 infection but can be used with any number of pathogens/target biomarkers. Other applications include monitoring the course of disease treatment and monitoring immunoglobulin mediated reactions such as transfusions or autoimmunity panels. Non-antibody-mediated applications are also supported on this system.
A provisional patent application has been filed to protect this technology.
• SUNY Polytechnic Institute filed a provisional patent application for qualitative and quantitative analysis of biomarkers using plasmon enhanced fluorescence on July 3, 2020.
• Ciencia currently holds US Patent 8,368,897 entitled [Dual-Mode Patent]
• Ciencia currently holds US Patent 7,655,421 entitled [Cytometer on a chip patent]
• Ciencia filed a provisional patent entitled, “Grating -Coupled Fluorescent Plasmonic Assay System” on November 13, 2020
This technology is available for licensing.
This technology will be of value to any company or institution involved in detecting exposure to COVID-19 and other diseases. This includes:
• Manufacturers of medical tests for viral diseases
• Hospitals
• Clinical laboratories
• Research institutions