the disruptive semiconductor technologies magazine - I-Micronews

OCTOBER 2010 issue n°100
THE DISRUPTIVE SEMICONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGIES MAGAZINE
MICROFLUIDICS
New microfluidic device helps identify and capture breast cancer cells
Researchers have developed a new disposable device that could help identify patients with advanced breast cancer
awaiting drug therapy with trastuzumab, and capture cancer cells that have an abnormal amount of the protein HER2.
Benjamin Thierry, of the Ian Wark Research
Institute at the University of South Australia,
along with his colleagues, has created an
elastic, disposable microfluidic device that can
efficiently catch the protein HER2 – which is the
tyrosine kinase human epidermal growth factor
receptor 2 – found in "aggressive breast cancers with
poor prognosis."
The only way to find out HER2 status in breast cancer
patients now is through fluorescence in situ
hybridization (FISH) or immunohistochemistry, both
of which require biopsies. The problem with biopsybased
testing is that it could lead to treatment that is
ineffective, because the HER2 status of the primary
tumor in 20 percent of breast cancers differs from the
HER2 status in that of a metastatic tumor. This
information has led to the idea of isolating circulating
tumor cells (CTCs), but this is difficult because
circulating tumor cells exist at very low ratios of 1 to
10 per billion blood cells.
Establishing HER2 status is very critical because
HER2 positive breast cancer patients have benefitted
from drug therapy with trastuzumab (Herceptin), which
are humanized monoclonal antibodies against HER2.
It also decreases recurrence risk by half. Also, the side
effects and cost makes it a priority to identify patients
who are HER2 positive. Now, Thierry and his colleagues'
device has the ability to detect the status of HER2 and
help capture circulating tumor cells. The device is made
of organic silicon found in most contact lenses, and
polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), which are shampoos
that are transparent, permeable to gasses, and
compatible with soft molding techniques. The device
also contains a polymeric layer on its surface, which has
a large number of reactive molecules in it. Through the
use of a plasma-based polymerization process, this
layer can attach to proteins that are able to catch cancer
cells while leaving normal blood cells alone.
Thierry's device showed an 80 percent immunocapture
efficacy of HER2 positive cells, and is also
cheaper and easier to make than previous
microfabricated devices, which were developed to
bind to cells of epithelial tissues where the cancer
originated, ultimately isolating CTCs.
www.unisa.edu.au
Lockheed Martin and ZyGEM accelerate DNA identification for law enforcement,
homeland security and defense communities
New, fast sample-to-answer DNA analysis platform previewed at 2010 Biometric Consortium conference.
Lockheed Martin and ZyGEM Corp. Ltd. are
unveiling a new DNA analysis system that has
potential to transform how law enforcement,
homeland security and defense communities use
DNA-based identification in support of their missions.
The prototype, called RapI.D., will be previewed at
a 2010 Biometric Consortium Conference special
session on Rapid DNA.
Developed in collaboration with ZyGEM as a Lockheed
Martin Technology Innovation Initiative, RapI.D.
leverages the latest in microfluidic research and
development to accelerate the DNA identification
process – essentially building a laboratory on a small,
single chip that reduces the processing steps and time
needed for analysis. The RapI.D. platform is
currently in prototype at ZyGEM's Charlottesville, Va.,
MicroLab laboratories, with a Beta version expected
to be released for testing in select laboratories early
next year. The cost and complexity of current forensic
DNA analysis methods has contributed to significant
processing backlogs throughout the criminal justice
system. Data from the Justice Department's FY 2009
Forensic DNA Backlog Reduction Program suggest
that the backlog has increased in recent years,
indicating that the 2008 backlogged cases reported
by state and local government applicants for funding
under the program had nearly tripled compared to
comparable data from 2005.
www.lockheedmartin.com
www.zygem.com
Pacific Biosciences to raise up to $230 M in IPO
Pacific Biosciences of California Inc said it
expects to raise up to $230 million in an initial
public offering of its common stock. The Menlo
Park, California-based company expects to offer
12.5 million shares at $15-$17 each, with an overallotment
option of 1.9 million shares, it said in an
amended filing.
The life sciences company, which designs machines
to speed up DNA sequencing in labs, sees net proceeds
of $182.5 million, assuming the offering priced at $16
per share, the mid-point of the range. The company
plans to invest about $60-$70 million of the proceeds
in its technology platform called single molecule, realtime,
or SMRT technology. Pacific Biosciences initially
filed for an IPO in August. The amended filing detailed
the expected pricing of the common stock sale.
JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank and Piper
Jaffray are underwriting the IPO, the company said.
Pacific Biosciences plans to list its shares under the
ticker symbol "PACB" on Nasdaq.
www.pacificbiosciences.com
FluimediX closes financing round
Funding Supports continued development of the NanoCycler platform to include a Warfarin Diagnostic Test.
FluimediX announced that it has received
funding for the continued development of the
NanoCycler, a diagnostic platform for the
measurement of relevant genetic mutations in
patients. The proceeds of this financing round will be
dedicated to developing a diagnostic test for Warfarin
metabolism. The investment round was led by SEED
Capital Denmark, a leading early stage investor
managing more than € 200 million in total assets.
Existing shareholders also participated in the
financing. The size of the round was not disclosed.
Tomas Ussing, CEO and founder of FluimediX,
commented: “Firstly, it is comprised of low cost, wellestablished
components. Secondly, the use of
plastic disposables enables extremely competitive
molecular diagnostic testing, and will thus bring this
type of testing closer to the patient. Thirdly, the built-in
broad versatility of the NanoCycler device will allow
other tests to be transferred to or developed for the
NanoCycler platform in the future.”
The use of a diagnostic test for Warfarin metabolism
would deliver important clinical benefits and cost
savings to the healthcare system. Approximately two
million people start taking Warfarin each year in the
U.S. Unfortunately, the optimal dose differs significantly
due to patient-to-patient genetic variation in how
quickly Warfarin is metabolized, and the medical
consequences of under- or over-dosing the drug
can be severe. Roughly one-third of the population
carries a genetic mutation that results in slow
metabolism of the drug, so the identification of those
patients who have this mutation could help avoid the
consequences of under- or over-dosing.
FX device lunch-box
www.fluimedix.com
FX chip
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