SBIR-STTR Award

Piezoelectric Pipetting for High Density Nucleic Acid Programmable Protein Arrays
Award last edited on: 3/28/19

Sponsored Program
STTR
Awarding Agency
NIH : NCRR
Total Award Amount
$427,205
Award Phase
2
Solicitation Topic Code
-----

Principal Investigator
Peter J Wiktor

Company Information

Engineering Arts LLC

P.O. Box 51120
Phoenix, AZ 85076
   (480) 626-5946
   pkahn@engineeringarts.com
   www.engineeringarts.com

Research Institution

Arizona State University

Phase I

Contract Number: 1R42RR031446-01
Start Date: 9/15/10    Completed: 7/31/12
Phase I year
2010
Phase I Amount
$213,279
Among the currently available techniques for high throughput proteomics, protein microarrays have the greatest prospects to revolutionize molecular diagnostics for early detection, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis and monitoring clinical response. However, protein microarrays have yet to reach their full potential as a research or clinical molecular diagnostics tool due to difficulties associated with their manufacture. Currently protein microarrays are manufactured by expressing &purifying thousands of proteins, which are then stored until they are printed using pin-spotters, a process flow with many inherent logistical problems. Furthermore, many proteins are unstable so these steps must all be maintained at cold temperature. Problems associated with pin spotters include: relatively slow printing speeds, poor spot morphology, pin biofouling issues, variable spot sizes, limited microarray densities and others. Thus, there are compelling needs for better and less expensive manufacturing methods for protein microarrays. In this grant we will combine two successful technologies to develop an innovative method for mass production of faster, better and cheaper protein microarrays. One technology is based on our advanced high speed piezoelectric pipettes to print arrays of cDNA templates and the other is to express proteins in situ directly on the microarray surface. Engineering Arts specializes in providing microarray production solutions based on its proprietary piezoelectric pipetting technology. Dr. LaBaer is the co-inventor of nucleic acid programmable protein arrays (NAPPA): the very first method to express proteins in situ directly in a microarray format. Engineering Arts will install one of its production-scale piezoelectric microarray machines (POC2) in Dr. LaBaer's Center for Personalized Diagnostics (CPD), Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University. We will develop tools, protocols and process controls required to manufacture production-scale, commercial-grade, high-density, customizable protein microarrays making them readily accessible to the broad proteomics research and clinical diagnostics communities. This grant directly addresses the call to develop a broadly applicable research tool that addresses a core technical challenge in proteomics. By making high quality protein microarrays more readily assessable, this grant will help unlock their true potential for research and clinical applications. This grant brings together world-class piezoelectric pipettes and electronics developed at Engineering Arts, over ten years experience in developing commercial automated production-scale piezoelectric microarraying manufacturing capabilities for high-density whole-genome gene expression microarrays;world class production-scale automation process manufacturing equipment from an established Singapore based semiconductor production equipment manufacturer, Dr. LaBaer's unique and patented NAPPA technology together in his CPD to develop, characterize and validate the next generation of commercial protein microarrays. , ,

Public Health Relevance:
Nearly all diagnostics and therapeutics act through proteins, which are the working machines of biology. The study of proteins, both their activities and their dysfunction in disease, has been historically managed one- protein-at-a-time;however, this will be dramatically accelerated through the use of protein microarrays, which microscopically display thousands of functional proteins. This grant will develop technology to mass produce better and less expensive protein microarrays, making them more readily accessible to the broad research and health care communities.

Thesaurus Terms:
Address;Amines;Antibodies;Antioncogene Protein P53;Arizona;Arts;Assay;Asses;Autoantibodies;Automation;Binding;Binding (Molecular Function);Bioassay;Biochemistry;Biologic Assays;Biological Assay;Biology;Blood Serum;Blotting, Western;Bovine Serum Albumin;Cell Communication And Signaling;Cell Signaling;Cellular Tumor Antigen P53;Chemistry;Chemistry, Biological;Clinical;Communities;Community Healthcare;Complementary Dna;Cristobalite;Dna;Dna Binding;Dna Binding Interaction;Dna, Complementary;Deoxyribonucleic Acid;Deposit;Deposition;Detection;Development;Diagnosis;Diagnostic;Diffusion;Disease;Disorder;Donkey;Dose;Dysfunction;Elisa;Early Diagnosis;Electronics;Elements;Engineering;Engineerings;Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay;Equipment;Equus Asinus;Fluorocarbons;Forecast Of Outcome;Functional Disorder;Gene Expression;Gene Transcription;Genes;Genes, P53;Genetic Transcription;Genome;Glass;Goals;Grant;Head;Health Care Research;Health Care, Community;Health Services Evaluation;Health Services Research;Healthcare Research;Healthcares, Community;Hereditary;Hour;Human;Human Resources;Human, General;Image;Immunoassay;In Situ;In Vitro;Individual;Industry;Inherited;Institutes;Intracellular Communication And Signaling;Legal Patent;Libraries;Location;Logistics;Mdm 2;Mdm2;Mdm2 Gene;Man (Taxonomy);Man, Modern;Manpower;Manufacturer;Manufacturer Name;Measurement;Mechanics;Medical Care Research;Methods;Methods And Techniques;Methods, Other;Metric;Microfabrication;Moab, Clinical Treatment;Molecular;Molecular Interaction;Monitor;Monoclonal Antibodies;Morphology;Nucleic Acids;Oncoprotein P53;P53;Patents;Perfluorocarbons;Performance;Phase;Phosphoprotein P53;Phosphoprotein Pp53;Physiopathology;Plasmids;Printing;Process;Production;Prognosis;Protein Array;Protein Biochips;Protein Chips;Protein Microarray;Protein Microchips;Protein Tp53;Protein P53;Proteins;Proteomics;Protocol;Protocols Documentation;Publishing;Quality Control;Rna Expression;Recovery;Relative;Relative (Related Person);Reproducibility;Research;Resolution;Sttr;Sampling;Sand;Science Of Chemistry;Screening Result;Screening Procedure;Semiconductors;Serum;Si Element;Signal Transduction;Signal Transduction Systems;Signaling;Signaling Protein;Silica;Silicon;Silicon Dioxide;Singapore;Slide;Small Business Technology Transfer Research;Solutions;Specific Qualifier Value;Specified;Speed;Speed (Motion);Spottings;Surface;Surface Plasmon Resonance;System;System, Loinc Axis 4;Tp53;Tp53 Gene;Trp53;Techniques;Technology;Temperature;Testing;Therapeutic;Time;Titrations;Transcription;Transcription, Genetic;Translations;Tridymite;Tumor Protein P53;Tumor Protein P53 Gene;Universities;Variant;Variation;Western Blotting;Western Blottings;Western Immunoblotting;Work;Autoimmune Antibody;Base;Biological Signal Transduction;Biomarker;Cdna;Cdna Arrays;Cdna Microarray;Chemical Reaction;Clinical Applicability;Clinical Application;Cold Temperature;Cost;Cross Reactivity;Density;Disease/Disorder;Early Detection;Experience;Gene Product;Imaging;Improved;Innovate;Innovation;Innovative;Interdisciplinary Approach;Low Temperature;Manufacturing Process;Miniaturize;Monolayer;Nano Litre;Nanoliter;Nanolitre;New Approaches;Next Generation;Novel;Novel Approaches;Novel Strategies;Novel Strategy;Operation;Outcome Forecast;P53 Antigen;P53 Tumor Suppressor;P53-Binding Protein Gene;Pathophysiology;Personnel;Polyclonal Antibody;Prevent;Preventing;Protein Blotting;Protein Function;Protein Protein Interaction;Prototype;Public Health Relevance;Quality Assurance;Response;Screening;Screenings;Self Reactive Antibody;Services Research;Success;Technological Innovation;Tool;Vector

Phase II

Contract Number: 5R42RR031446-02
Start Date: 9/15/10    Completed: 7/31/12
Phase II year
2011
Phase II Amount
$213,926
Among the currently available techniques for high throughput proteomics, protein microarrays have the greatest prospects to revolutionize molecular diagnostics for early detection, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis and monitoring clinical response. However, protein microarrays have yet to reach their full potential as a research or clinical molecular diagnostics tool due to difficulties associated with their manufacture. Currently protein microarrays are manufactured by expressing &purifying thousands of proteins, which are then stored until they are printed using pin-spotters, a process flow with many inherent logistical problems. Furthermore, many proteins are unstable so these steps must all be maintained at cold temperature. Problems associated with pin spotters include: relatively slow printing speeds, poor spot morphology, pin biofouling issues, variable spot sizes, limited microarray densities and others. Thus, there are compelling needs for better and less expensive manufacturing methods for protein microarrays. In this grant we will combine two successful technologies to develop an innovative method for mass production of faster, better and cheaper protein microarrays. One technology is based on our advanced high speed piezoelectric pipettes to print arrays of cDNA templates and the other is to express proteins in situ directly on the microarray surface. Engineering Arts specializes in providing microarray production solutions based on its proprietary piezoelectric pipetting technology. Dr. LaBaer is the co-inventor of nucleic acid programmable protein arrays (NAPPA): the very first method to express proteins in situ directly in a microarray format. Engineering Arts will install one of its production-scale piezoelectric microarray machines (POC2) in Dr. LaBaer's Center for Personalized Diagnostics (CPD), Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University. We will develop tools, protocols and process controls required to manufacture production-scale, commercial-grade, high-density, customizable protein microarrays making them readily accessible to the broad proteomics research and clinical diagnostics communities. This grant directly addresses the call to develop a broadly applicable research tool that addresses a core technical challenge in proteomics. By making high quality protein microarrays more readily assessable, this grant will help unlock their true potential for research and clinical applications. This grant brings together world-class piezoelectric pipettes and electronics developed at Engineering Arts, over ten years experience in developing commercial automated production-scale piezoelectric microarraying manufacturing capabilities for high-density whole-genome gene expression microarrays;world class production-scale automation process manufacturing equipment from an established Singapore based semiconductor production equipment manufacturer, Dr. LaBaer's unique and patented NAPPA technology together in his CPD to develop, characterize and validate the next generation of commercial protein microarrays.

Public Health Relevance:
Nearly all diagnostics and therapeutics act through proteins, which are the working machines of biology. The study of proteins, both their activities and their dysfunction in disease, has been historically managed one- protein-at-a-time;however, this will be dramatically accelerated through the use of protein microarrays, which microscopically display thousands of functional proteins. This grant will develop technology to mass produce better and less expensive protein microarrays, making them more readily accessible to the broad research and health care communities.

Thesaurus Terms:
Address;Amines;Antibodies;Antioncogene Protein P53;Arizona;Arts;Assay;Asses;Autoantibodies;Automation;Be Element;Beryllium;Binding;Binding (Molecular Function);Bioassay;Biochemistry;Biologic Assays;Biological Assay;Biological Chemistry;Biology;Blood Serum;Bovine Serum Albumin;Cell Communication And Signaling;Cell Signaling;Cellular Tumor Antigen P53;Chemistry;Clinical;Clinical Treatment Moab;Communities;Community Health Care;Community Healthcare;Complementary Dna;Cristobalite;Dna;Dna Binding;Dna Binding Interaction;Deoxyribonucleic Acid;Deposit;Deposition;Detection;Development;Diagnosis;Diagnostic;Diffusion;Disease;Disorder;Donkey;Dose;Dysfunction;Elisa;Early Diagnosis;Electronics;Engineering;Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay;Equipment;Equus Asinus;Fluorocarbons;Functional Disorder;Gene Expression;Gene Transcription;Genes;Genetic Transcription;Genome;Glass;Goals;Grant;Head;Health Care Research;Health Services Evaluation;Health Services Research;Healthcare Research;Hereditary;Hour;Human;Human Resources;Image;Immunoassay;In Situ;In Vitro;Individual;Industry;Inherited;Institutes;Intracellular Communication And Signaling;Loinc Axis 4 System;Legal Patent;Libraries;Location;Logistics;Mdm 2;Mdm2;Mdm2 Gene;Man (Taxonomy);Manpower;Manufacturer;Manufacturer Name;Measurement;Mechanics;Medical Care Research;Methods;Metric;Microfabrication;Modern Man;Molecular;Molecular Interaction;Monitor;Monoclonal Antibodies;Morphology;Nucleic Acids;Oncoprotein P53;Patents;Perfluorocarbons;Performance;Phase;Phosphoprotein P53;Phosphoprotein Pp53;Physiopathology;Plasmids;Printing;Process;Production;Prognosis;Protein Array;Protein Biochips;Protein Chips;Protein Microarray;Protein Microchips;Protein Tp53;Protein P53;Proteins;Proteomics;Protocol;Protocols Documentation;Publishing;Quality Control;Rna Expression;Recovery;Relative;Relative (Related Person);Reproducibility;Research;Resolution;Sttr;Sampling;Sand;Screening Result;Screening Procedure;Semiconductors;Serum;Si Element;Signal Transduction;Signal Transduction Systems;Signaling;Signaling Protein;Silica;Silicon;Silicon Dioxide;Singapore;Slide;Small Business Technology Transfer Research;Solutions;Specific Qualifier Value;Specified;Speed;Speed (Motion);Spottings;Surface;Surface Plasmon Resonance;System;Techniques;Technology;Temperature;Testing;Therapeutic;Time;Titrations;Transcription;Translations;Tridymite;Tumor Protein P53;Universities;Variant;Variation;Western Blotting;Western Immunoblotting;Work;Autoimmune Antibody;Base;Biological Signal Transduction;Biomarker;Cdna;Cdna Arrays;Cdna Microarray;Chemical Reaction;Clinical Applicability;Clinical Application;Cold Temperature;Cost;Cross Reactivity;Density;Developmental;Disease/Disorder;Early Detection;Experience;Gene Product;Imaging;Improved;Innovate;Innovation;Innovative;Interdisciplinary Approach;Low Temperature;Manufacturing Process;Mechanical;Miniaturize;Monolayer;Multidisciplinary Approach;Nano Litre;Nanoliter;Nanolitre;New Approaches;Next Generation;Novel;Novel Approaches;Novel Strategies;Novel Strategy;Operation;Outcome Forecast;P53 Antigen;P53 Tumor Suppressor;P53-Binding Protein Gene;Pathophysiology;Personnel;Polyclonal Antibody;Prevent;Preventing;Protein Blotting;Protein Function;Protein Protein Interaction;Prototype;Public Health Relevance;Quality Assurance;Response;Screening;Screenings;Self Reactive Antibody;Services Research;Success;Technological Innovation;Tool;Vector