Nanohoops as new tools in biotechnology

Description:

HEADLINE: Groundbreaking fluorescent marker technology using nanohoops

Description: Biocompatible fluorescent molecules are essential for observing complex biological events in real time. Our groundbreaking fluorescent marker technology gives researchers a new kind of optical tag to use in biotechnology, biomedical sciences and chemical biology research. These exceptionally bright nanohoop-based fluorescent markers are water soluble, stable at a remarkably wide range of pH levels, and are less likely to lose their intensity due to self-quenching. These new markers can easily be modified to seek out specific cell types – for example, cancer cells – and they likely can be engineered to carry a payload.

Nanohoop fluorescent markers’ unique properties mean they could one day be engineered to deliver a therapeutic compound to a specific cell type, then fluoresce when the compound has been delivered.

Benefits: Nanohoop fluorescent markers’ many exciting potential benefits include:

· Nanohoops can easily be made in different sizes, each emitting a different fluorescent color. That means nanohoop markers can potentially be used to simultaneously track multiple functions within a living cell. And, you can use the same laser to excite all of the differently-colored tags at once.

· Nanohoop markers are not flat like other fluorescent markers, and their ring shapes give them the potential to transport molecules into cells. This means nanohoops can potentially be used as a trackable therapy delivery system.

· The light given off by these nanohoops is very bright, making them easier to image than other fluorescent markers.

· Nanohoops are easily functionizable, meaning it’s easy to attach them to proteins, DNA or your molecule of choice.

Opportunities Nanohoops are derivatives of [n]cycloparaphenylenes. Their unique properties also make them likely candidates for solar, energy, water filtration, electronics and screens-related research. Other research opportunities include:

· Any application requiring tagging an antibody with a fluorescent molecule

· Research involving tracking any disease state with a protein marker, or with multiple biomarkers

· Laser and semiconductor research, solar and energy research, molecular electronics, electronics and screens research, including flexible electronics

· Using nanohoops as ligands in metal organic frameworks, transition metal complexes, and enzyme-like catalysts

· Nanohoops can potentially transport molecules that turn on – or off – when they encounter a specified substance or condition.

· Filtration research, because nanohoops are inherently porous

· Applications in imaging, infrared light and optics research

Keywords:  Engineering Biomedical Materials Nano Science BIOSCIENCES Biotechnology CHEMISTRY THERAPEUTICS

Patent # or Application #

15/187,644 Donor-acceptor nanohoop compounds and methods of making and using the same

10,654,780  HALOGENATED NANOHOOP COMPOUNDS AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING THE SAME

16/041,676 Nanohoop Compounds for Use in Biotechnology and Methods of Making and Using the same

16/505,252 NANOHOOP COMPOUND EMBODIMENTS COMPRISING META-SUBSTITUTION AND MOLECULAR SYSTEMS COMPRISING THE SAME

Patent Information:
Category(s):
Chemistry
For Information, Contact:
Christine Gramer
Senior Technology Development Associate
University of Oregon
cgramer@uoregon.edu
Inventors:
Ramesh Jasti
Bruce Branchaud
Brittany White
Keywords: