Nanotechnology is beginning to generate substantial new insights into how biological systems function and is believed to hold potential advances in both the pharmaceuticals and health care industries
Acrongenomics, a research and development company focused in the field of nanobiotechnology, is exploring future prospects by evaluating the technology behind existing implementations of PCR, Elisa and real time PCR.
According to its market research, current applications reveal certain limitations, including problems with efficiency and cost effectiveness.
Acrongenomics endeavours to overcome these limitations by introducing nanotechnology into molecular biology.
Nanotechnology is beginning to generate substantial new insights into how biological systems function and is believed to hold potential advances in both the pharmaceuticals and health care industries.
Acrongenomics believes that its first application, the Neo-EpCAM cancer detection kit, provides enhanced performance as a result of its ongoing Nano-Jeta platform, which combines nanotechnology with molecular biology and applies in PCR, enzyme reactions - including universal Elisa detection systems - and real time PCR.
In total, 97 different tissue samples from patients suffering from laryngeal cancer, and 82 different tissue samples from patients suffering from breast cancer were used for standardisation, evaluation, validation and characterisation of the Neo-EpCAM cancer detection kit.
A characterisation and evaluation report for Neo-EpCAM has been completed in universal PCR and Elisa.
By advancing know-how in nanotechnology, the company applied its Nano-Jeta platform on the detection of more markers and viral targets such as Neo-EpCAM, HER1, HER2, HER3, and HER4, with the incorporation of the appropriate primers.
A characterisation and evaluation report has been completed in PCR and Elisa.
750 tests were performed in colon and breast cancer samples.
750 tests were performed in colon and laryngeal cancer samples.
250 tests were also performed in breast and laryngeal cancer samples.
In essence, Nano-Jeta shows a potential in eliminating all known limitations of current technologies, says Acrongenomics.
These developments led to the reshaping of both conventional PCR and Elisa, to Nano-Jeta PCR, and universal Nano-Jeta Elisa respectivel,y without compromising sensitivity, specificity and reliability.
Realising the potential applications of the Nano-Jeta platform is of crucial importance in understanding its diversity, says the company.
There are a large number of possible permutations waiting to be explored, and therefore Acrongenomics has evolved Nano-Jeta in real-time PCR application for markers such as EpCAM, HER1, HER2, and vEGF by conducting clinical validation trials in 400 samples of breast, colon, lung and ovarian cancer anticipating completion by the end of March 2005.
Preliminary indications reveal precision, accuracy, specificity and reproducibility.
By evolving its proprietary technology, it has currently achieved a typical real-time PCR in 47 seconds without compromising sensitivity, specificity and reliability, it says.
Nano-Jeta as an application for real time PCR uses common real time PCR equipment revealing qualitative results even from the first cycle reaching maximum performance at the eighth cycle.
In addition, with such achievements and in order to strengthen its position, the company has decided to conduct independent validation studies in the USA.
Molecular diagnostic testing is the fastest-growing segment of the in vitro diagnostics industry.
The last four years, clinical market for molecular diagnostic products has increased from $1 billion in 2000 to 2.8 billion in 2004 and sales are expected to exceed $5 billion by 2008 (Biotechnology Associates).
So profitable is the molecular diagnostics market that pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies are highly focused in developing tests that can be used to guide prescribing, and individualise patient treatment.
