This technology is an assay that can distinguish diseased from healthy cells based on cell directionality or chirality.
Unmet Need: Simple assay to detect disease phenotypes
Current methods to diagnose cancer and other diseases are based on biomarkers, imaging, and tissue biopsy analysis, which often need corroboration with other assays, increasing the time and cost associated with accurate diagnosis. Observing the directionality of cell growth patterns, known as cell chirality, could provide a facile method to identify diseased cells. However, no assays currently exist that enable reliable analysis of cell chirality.
The Technology: Simple micro-assay determines cell chirality for disease detection and drug screening
This technology determines cell chirality through time-lapse microscopy of cells cultured on micro-patterned surfaces. This assay can detect statistically significant differences in cell directionality within 12-24 hours. Changes in cell chirality indicate changes in cellular function that can be correlated with disease states including cancer, genetic abnormalities, and birth defects. Thus, this technology provides a robust platform for disease diagnostics or drug screening.
This technology has been validated in human cell lines.
Applications:
- Diagnostic platform for cancer and other diseases
- Prenatal screening for developmental disorders
- Fetal drug toxicity screening
- Drug screening platform
- Quality control screening of cell-based therapies (stem cell, implantation)
- Quality control for cell lines
- Research tool to study cell chirality and related mechanisms
Advantages:
- Highly accurate cell function-based assay for disease detection
- Time and cost effective
- Can be expanded and automated for high-throughput screens
- Compatible with conventional phase contrast microscopes
Lead Inventor:
Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic, Ph.D.
Patent Information:
Patent Status
Related Publications:
Wan LQ, Ronaldson K, Guirguis M, Vunjak-Novakovic G. “Micropatterning of cells reveals chiral morphogenesis” Stem Cell Res Ther. 2013 Apr 3; 4(2): 24.
Wan LQ, Vunjak-Novakovic G. “Micropatterning chiral morphogenesis” Commun Integr Biol. 2011 Nov; 4(6): 745-748.
Wan LQ, Ronaldson K, Park M, Taylor G, Zhang Y, Gimble JM, Vunjak-Novakovic G. “Micropatterned mammalian cells exhibit phenotype-specific left-right asymmetry” PNAS. 2011 Jun 2; 108(30): 12295-12300.
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