News Article
Arrowhead targets German professor's patents
US nanotechnology firm Arrowhead Research has bought a suite of nanosensor patents and patent applications developed by Dr Hermann Gaub, a professor of biophysics with the Centre for Nanoscience at the Ludwig-Maximilians University in Munich, Germany.
US nanotechnology firm Arrowhead Research has bought a suite of nanosensor patents and patent applications developed by Dr Hermann Gaub, a professor of biophysics with the Centre for Nanoscience at the Ludwig-Maximilians University in Munich, Germany.
The patents cover techniques for measuring biomolecular interactions by single-molecule force spectroscopy. The techniques are sensitive enough to detect single-base pair mismatches of DNA and have demonstrated significant improvement over state-of-the-art instrumentation.
The patent applications also include construction of parallel assays for placing millions of sensors on a chip. Arrowhead acquired the patents and patent applications for a di minimus cash payment.
R Bruce Stewart , president of Arrowhead, said that devices based on the patents could significantly reduce the time to carry out blood tests.
"Now, we go to the doctor's office to have large samples of blood taken and then wait for days to get the results from a remote laboratory. With a nanosensor-enabled device, tests could be performed with a single drop of blood - and the results obtained within minutes."
The patents cover techniques for measuring biomolecular interactions by single-molecule force spectroscopy. The techniques are sensitive enough to detect single-base pair mismatches of DNA and have demonstrated significant improvement over state-of-the-art instrumentation.
The patent applications also include construction of parallel assays for placing millions of sensors on a chip. Arrowhead acquired the patents and patent applications for a di minimus cash payment.
R Bruce Stewart , president of Arrowhead, said that devices based on the patents could significantly reduce the time to carry out blood tests.
"Now, we go to the doctor's office to have large samples of blood taken and then wait for days to get the results from a remote laboratory. With a nanosensor-enabled device, tests could be performed with a single drop of blood - and the results obtained within minutes."
