 EXCIPLEX TECHNOLOGY by Allan Prits
Thursday 04th November, 2004
Professor Douglas and his group in the Department of Pharmacy have built up a wealth of expertise and know-how relating to the physical characteristics and properties of exciplexes. They also have begun to build a substantial intellectual property portfolio in this area. For example, this group has shown for the first time, the emission of organic exciplexes in aqueous media. The group has considerable complementary expertise in chemical synthesis, molecular modelling, NMR analysis and oligonucleotide and protein modification, handling and modification.
The BACKGROUND
Professor Douglas and his group in the Department of Pharmacy have built up a wealth of expertise and know-how relating to the physical characteristics and properties of exciplexes. They also have begun to build a substantial intellectual property portfolio in this area. For example, this group has shown for the first time, the emission of organic exciplexes in aqueous media. The group has considerable complementary expertise in chemical synthesis, molecular modelling, NMR analysis and oligonucleotide and protein modification, handling and modification.
The TECHNOLOGY
Fluorescence detection is widespread and growing in use in the analytical biotechnology field. However, the technology is currently limited in sensitivity and specificity primarily by significant fluorescence background in real samples, including auto-fluorescence and non-specific fluorescence. Moreover, binding of the probe molecules, with sample and concentration-dependent quenching of current fluorescent probes, together render difficult the resolution of individual molecular or cellular events. These issues are being addressed by the development of a novel fluorescent dye technology that effectively renders background issues totally negligible.
What are Exciplexes?
An excimer is a dimeric complex (e.g. the pyrene dimer) formed only when one of the monomeric components is photo-excited; the resulting complex is stable and fluoresces at a much longer wavelength than the monomer. An exciplex is similar to an excimer but involves non-identical partners. A key point is that no bound ground state complex exists prior to photo-excitation.
Exciplexes have not previously been as detectors of DNA binding, though excimers have. Therefore, the principle has been established but exciplexes represent a novel approach. The concept of using exciplexes as detectors for bio-systems and analysis is novel, though the theory of exciplex formation and some aspects of their behaviour are well developed.
Key BENEFITS
- Established protocol, easy to follow methodology- under development
- SAFE and rapid use in homogeneous assay format-under development
- Broadly applicable (bulk solution, liquid drop, micro-technology and single-cell formats)
- Applicable to DNA, RNA, PNA and their hybrids
- Protected- a portfolio of Intellectual Property exists, in addition to significant know-how in the area of preparation and characterization of novel dyes for use in the fields of drug discovery and research in particular
- Cost-effective protocols are being developed for preparation and characterisation of such dyes.
Main APPLICATIONS
- DNA related drug discovery
- Fluorescence-based high throughput screening assays
- Secondary screening, metabolism and toxicology screens
- Clinical Diagnostics applications
- Cell-Based assays for drug discovery
- Research tool, label and probe
- Target induced assembly of detectors
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DNA-Based Applications
Patent STATUS
Collaboration OPPORTUNITY
We are currently seeking partners and /or licensees for further development of the technology in specific fields of application. Notably we believe that the technology will have direct and relevant benefit in the fields of High throughput DNA sequencing and drug screening. Furthermore, the technology may have applications in other more clinical and diagnostic application.
CONTACT
If you feel that this technology could be beneficial to you and your company, we would be delighted to hear from you. Detailed confidential information, including further details of the current IP position, can be released to interested parties under the terms of our standard confidential information (released under CDA). Please contact:-
Dr Martino Picardo – Business Development Manager
Telephone: +44 (0) 161 606 7200
Email: [email protected]
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