Fiscal Year:
2001
Title:
HIGH-SPEED PCR USING A PRESSURIZED GAS THERMOCYCLER
Agency:
HHS
Contract:
N/A
Award Amount:
$0.00
Abstract:
DESCRIPTION (Applicant's abstract): In Phase I Research, a pressurized gas
thermocycler was fabricated and successfully used to amplify gene fragments
from human beta-globin (536 b.p.), Human Platelet Antigen (364 b.p.),
bacteriophage lambda (333 b.p.), and a bacterial pathogen, E.coli 0157:H7 (91
b.p. and 85 b.p. amplicons). In our fastest experiments, a short 85 b.p.
amplicon was amplified through 30 PCR cycles in 78 seconds.
The speed and thermal control of this device were limited by its simple 3-valve
configuration (hot gas valve, cold gas valve, throttle valve), flow
conditioner, inadequate gas cooling, software, and lack of on-line DNA
detection optics.
In Phase II Research, improved high performance 4- and 5-valve thermocyclers
will be fitted with on-line fluorescence detection optics. For short (less than
100 b.p.) amplicons, 30 cycles of amplification/detection will be carried out
in less than 60 seconds using pressurized Helium gas. Longer amplicons (100 to
500 b.p.) will be amplified in 1 to 4 minutes using pressurized air.
Pressurized gas thermocyclers will enable DNA-based diagnosis of heritable and
infectious diseases on an unprecedented time scale.
PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATION:
The proposed method is ten times faster than the fastest commercially available hot-air
PCR thermocyclers; and 100 times faster than commonly used heat block thermocyclers.
Phase II Research will develop enabling technology for high-throughput-screening
capabilities, which can be applied to diagnostics, drug discovery, and functional genomics
related to heritable and infectious diseases. There is very large and growing market for
high-speed PCR for medical/veterinary diagnostics, agribusiness, and biomedical research.
Principal Investigator:
Alex G. Bonner
Small Business Information at Submission:
BIOLINK PARTNERS
109 SCHOOL ST WATERTOWN, MA 02172
EIN/Tax ID:
517504137
DUNS:
N/A
Number of Employees:
N/A
Woman-Owned:
No
Minority-Owned:
No
HUBZone-Owned:
No