Alliance for Nucleic Acid Analysis

A collaborative effort is under way to commercialize an instrument for the automated analysis of nucleic acids and proteins. Sensis, a start-up in the Gavish-Galilee Bio Applications group of companies (Israel), is collaborating with the Canadian company Mirador DNA Design (Montreal, Canada), a developer of electrophoresis and molecular biology tools.

Together, the companies will produce a palm-size prototype, utilizing a laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection system suitable for microslab gel electrophoresis. The core
of the LIF detection system is an optical wave guide formed by a linear array of cylindrical microlenses. The instrument can be used for a diverse range of nucleic acid analyses, from simple fragment analysis to the most demanding high-speed, high-accuracy DNA sequencing. The preliminary development work was done by Sensis. The system integrates application-specific disposable microslab cassettes, to be produced by Mirador, for the detection and analysis of genes or proteins. The new instrument is expected to be significantly simpler, more convenient, and less expensive to use than existing technologies.

"All biotechnology laboratories are equipped with PCR devices. However, DNA sequencing is normally handled at central facilities, and it may take up to a week for the investigator to get results by current methods,” said Dr. Iris Geffen, CEO of Sensis. "Our device gives online results within 10-15 minutes, at the bench, while enabling the separation of up to 400 bases in 5 centimeter runs.”




Related Links:
Gavish-Galilee Bio
Mirador