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| Licensing & Royalties >> Licensing Opportunities >> Abstract Details |
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| Microwave-Assisted Freeze Substitution of Biological and Biomedical Samples |
Description of Invention:
Freeze substitution fixation (FS) of hydrated samples frozen in vitreous ice provides exceptional preservation of structure for light and electron microscopy, and enables immunological detection of thermo-labile antigens that otherwise are damaged/destroyed by processing at ambient or elevated temperatures. Its use as a research tool or in clinical pathology has, however, been limited by the relatively lengthy periods required for passive diffusion of fixatives and organic solvents into the frozen hydrated material.
The invention utilizes controlled microwave (MW) irradiation to accelerate the FS process; and comprises systems, devices and methods for microwave-assisted processing of samples under cryo-conditions. The entire MWFS procedure has been accomplished in less than 4 hours as compared to the approximately 2-5 days required for FS.
Applications:
- Provides superior preservation and rapid turnaround in research and high throughput clinical laboratory settings
- Applicable to a broad range of biological samples, hydrogels, and other hydrated materials
- Processing for light and electron microscopy
- Low-temperature synthetic and analytical chemistry
Advantages:
- Reduces processing periods from days to hours
- Improves preservation, approaching native state
- Enables uncomplicated, programmable operation
- Provides excellent reproducibility
Development Status:
- Proof of concept with varied biological samples
- Adaptation of existing equipment with manual processing
- Proposed designs for instrumentation and automation
Inventors:
Elizabeth R Fischer (NIAID)
Vinod Nair (NIAID)
David W Dorward (NIAID)
Patent Status:
HHS, Reference No. E-238-2008/2
PCT, Application No. PCT/US2009/055913 filed 03 Sep 2009 , which published as WO 2010/028164 on 11 Mar 2010
US, Application No. 13/062,479 filed 04 Mar 2011
Licensing Status:
Available for licensing.
Collaborative Research Opportunity:
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Research Technologies Branch, Electron Microscopy Unit, is interested in collaborative research to further develop, evaluate, or commercialize potential applications of this invention, including design and development of instrumentation for conducting MWFS. Please contact Barry U. Buchbinder, Ph.D., NIAID/OTD, at 301-594-1696 or bbuchbinder@niaid.nih.gov, for more information.
For Licensing Information Please Contact:
Michael Shmilovich Esq.
NIH Office of Technology Transfer
6011 Executive Blvd. Suite 325,
Rockville, MD 20852
United States
Email: shmilovm@mail.nih.gov
Phone: 301-435-5019
Fax: 301-402-0220
Ref No: 1892
Updated: 07/2010
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