Fluorescent Nucleobase Surrogate and Aptasensor

Technology

• Aptamer that changes fluorescence upon binding to target.
• Cyanine-indole-quinolinium (4QI) dye joined to DNA aptamers.
• Fluorescent detection of aptamer-target binding.
• Rapid signal development (instantly upon binding).
• 90nm Stokes shift makes it particularly usable in difficult matrices, or minimally prepared samples (i.e. blood, raw water, etc.)
• Proof of concept stage attained (tests have been performed against biomolecules in complex matrices and small molecules in solution.)
• Derivative and new variant technologies are currently under development.

Advantages and Applications

• Useful for: biomedical diagnostics, research, and quantification as well as environmental imaging and diagnostics.
• Single strand procedure - no need to optimize complementary strand equilibria.
• Self-attenuating, eliminates additional steps in measurement.
• Dye responds only during target binding with negligible background.

Status

Utility patent granted in the United States (US 11,215,619) and pending in Canada (CA 3063152)

Seeking licensee(s).

Contact

Michael Fowler, michaelf@uoguelph.ca, 519-824-4120 x53808