Patent relates to latent fluorophore-minor groove binder oligonucleotide conjugates which fluoresce upon hybridisation to a target
Nanogen, a developer of advanced diagnostic products, reports that its subsidiary, Epoch Biosciences, was issued US patent No 6,951,930, 'Hybridization-Triggered Fluorescent Detection of Nucleic Acids' by the US Patent and Trademark Office.
The 930 patent relates to latent fluorophore-minor groove binder oligonucleotide conjugates which fluoresce upon hybridisation to a target.
The conjugates may be used to detect nucleic acid targets.
The technology described in the patent also allows for simpler and faster fluorescent real-time molecular analyses.
Sensitive and specific detection of nucleic acid targets play an integral role in any molecular application, including infectious and genetic disease diagnostics.
Using the latent fluorescent-minor groove binder oligonucleotide conjugates, with low fluorescing backgrounds, either as primers or probes, can create improved diagnostic reagents.
These reagents contain shorter highly conserved sequence regions improving assay specificity, and the probes are non-cleavable which allows post-PCR melt curve analysis.
"Nanogen and the Epoch researchers are continually discovering methods to improve the sensitivity and specificity of detection for nucleic acid targets related to disease," said Howard Birndorf, Nanogen chairman and chief executive officer.
"Nanogen's MGB products that incorporate this improved, fluorescent target detection technology are well recognised by many researchers and diagnostic labs as the standard for real-time PCR probe and primer technology.
"Our strong intellectual property and technology development capabilities will allow us to bring highly valued molecular diagnostic products to the market and our partners and ultimately help change healthcare practices".
Nanogen's advanced diagnostics provide researchers, clinicians and physicians worldwide with improved methods and tests to predict, diagnose and ultimately help treat disease.
The company's products include real-time PCR reagents, the NanoChip 400 and NanoChip molecular biology workstation platform for molecular diagnostic applications and a line of rapid point-of-care diagnostic tests.
Nanogen's ten years of pioneering research involving nanotechnology holds the promise of miniaturisation and continues to be supported for its potential for diagnostic and biowarfare applications.
