Detecting DNA and RNA at Zeptomole Scale Sensitivities

SLU ID 10-017 | Biolayer Interferometry Measurement of Biological Targets

Background

Analyzing DNA is essential to modern molecular biology and clinical diagnostics. However, many methods for DNA analysis are too costly and inefficient for numerous commercial applications.

Overview

Researchers at Saint Louis University have developed methods to detect specific target DNAs at zeptomole scale sensitivities. The technology is implemented using fully automated instrumentation and has broad application in diagnostics and genetic screening.

Benefits

The potential benefits of this technology include:

• Increasing ability to detect mutations in samples containing over 100-fold excess of wild-type DNA sequences

• Minimizing the amount of purification required to analyze DNA

• Minimizing the amount of technical expertise required to perform DNA analysis

• Minimizing the cost of DNA analysis

• Minimizing the time required to perform DNA analysis

Applications

The potential applications of this technology include:

• Diagnostics

• Genetic screening

• Genotyping

• Analysis of clinical samples for mutations and nucleotide sequence polymorphisms

• Exposing a biosensor to a sample containing the target molecule

• Amplifying the number of bound peroxidase by allowing the peroxidase enzyme to react with a proteinaceous substrate coupled to biotin

Opportunity

Saint Louis University is seeking a partner to further develop and commercialize this technology.