Invitrogen, Signalomics to develop multi-color nanotechnology to identify 'faulty' cells

By Elaine Rigoli

Tampa, Fla., April 11 - Invitrogen Corp. and Signalomics plan to develop nanocrystal reagents with the ability to enhance the identification of tumors in in-vivo patient tissue by detecting the presence of a single cancerous cell, which may improve the ability to excise the tumor more rapidly and completely.

The initial goal of the collaboration is to develop an imaging agent that can be used to identify colon carcinomas requiring surgical intervention, according to a news release.

"Our technology allows us to label the signal molecules of a cell and then visualize cells with faulty signaling, such as cancer cells. This approach allows physicians and scientists to diagnose diseased tissue as well as design therapeutics targeted to the faulty signal transduction," Signalomics chief executive officer Christoph Block said in the release.

This nanobiotechnology-based in-vivo diagnostics platform will be coupled with designer proteins with fluorescent semiconductor crystals.

These nanocrystal-protein conjugates, once introduced into a cell, are visualized with a laser light of a specific wavelength that makes the nanocrystal-protein conjugates emit light in different colors.

The colors of the light help to identify cells with faulty signal molecules and allow detection of a single tumor cell in vivo, the release said.

Invitrogen, headquartered in Carlsbad, Calif provides life-science technologies for disease research, drug discovery and commercial bioproduction.

Signalomics, headquartered in Steinfurt, Germany, develops custom-designed therapeutics and theranostics for illnesses that result from errors in cellular signal transduction.

© 2015 Prospect News.
All content on this website is protected by copyright law in the U.S. and elsewhere. For the use of the person downloading only.
Redistribution and copying are prohibited by law without written permission in advance from Prospect News.
Redistribution or copying includes e-mailing, printing multiple copies or any other form of reproduction.