Mobious unveils improved molecular binding test
new sensing technique that will allow proteomic, genomic and
clinical researchers to conduct protein interaction studies more
accurately and with greater sensitivity, writes Wai Lang
Chu.
The technology is based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR). This is a widely used laboratory technique designed for real-time analysis of biomolecular interactions, but its use is limited by a high degree of background noise that can obstruct readouts, particularly in a liquid environment.
The NanoPlasmon Platform - consisting of a microarray and a reader that should be launched within the next 12-18 months - overcomes the noise issue while also making the experiments less sensitive to changes in temperature.
The experimental noise generated in SPR-based techniques arises from "bulk" refractive index (RI) changes within fluid environments. Changes in relative RI between differing buffers hides the changes in biomolecular interactions. This noise-sensitivity restricts the composition of the analyte and/or running buffers.
These restrictions may prevent true in vitro experimental models of in vivo molecular processes, and in particular can obscure the interaction kinetics in protein-drug interaction studies.
Daniel Densham, managing director of Mobious Genomics said: "SPR is a laboratory technique that is increasingly becoming more common especially in academic institutions and pharmaceutical drug companies."
"Our main market is obviously the pharmaceutical industry but we've had a lot of interest from academic institutions eager to invest increases in funding in the latest technology."
The hike in accuracy achieved using Mobious' technology could also make SPR more amenable to use in a high-throughput research environment. "The prospect of a fully automated platform of chips is a distinct possibility," said Densham.
SPR is a phenomenon that occurs when light is reflected off thin metal films. Under appropriate conditions, the plasmons can resonate with light resulting in the absorption of the light. Adsorption of molecules on the metallic film or conformational changes in the adsorbed molecules can be detected as the resonant condition is extremely sensitive to the refractive index of the medium adjacent to the metal film,
Ever since the biotechnology firm Biacore pioneered the SPR approach for protein detection in the 1980s the technology has become a gold standard for the industry, aided by its simplicity, the range of measurements it can produce (e.g. affinity, on- and off-rates and dissociation constants) and the fact that it operates in real time.
SPR has become the choice application for exploring the structure-function relationships of biomolecules, providing a valuable tool for studies in the fields of drug development and cell adhesion studies
For many years, Biacore was the dominant player in the sector,with a number of smaller companies snapping at its heels. But the situation changed with the entry of instrument giant Applied Biosystems into the fray in September 2003 with its 8500 Affinity Chip Analyser. The intention of Mobious is to raise the technology to the next level.
Outsourcing
Mobious is also offering pharmaceutical companies early access to its technology via a biomolecular interaction discovery service.
"The programme invites drug companies to supply a library and expected targets," said Densham. "We screen them in-house using our technology. The drug company receives a full service or demonstration of our plasmonic devices which are unavailable anywhere else."
