Value Proposition:
· Technology creates particles optimally size for use as vehicles for cell transfection.
· The reagents and processes for particle creation are kinetically controlled and reproducible.
· Cationic particles created using these methods can carry larger payloads than current vehicles.
· Reagents and nucleic acid-loaded particles are shelf-stable, allowing for long term storage
· Creation and use of transfection particles is simple and less prone to error, as compared to current technologies and protocols.
Technology Description
· Researchers at Johns Hopkins have developed a set of reagents that can achieve the creation of stable cationic/nucleic acid particles for large scale cell transfection
· This creation process is reproducible, scalable, and creates particles that are an optimal size for cell transfection
Unmet Need
Cell transfection is a process by which new genetic material, either RNA or DNA, is introduced to cells in order to alter their gene expression, create a new type of cell, or produce recombinant proteins that can be used for therapeutics [Kim et al., 2010]. The current gold standard of cell transfection includes viral or nanoparticle delivery of genetic material to cells, though these approaches are often associated with low transfection efficiency and immunogenicity. This could be alleviated by the creation of nucleic acid carriers with specific parameters, including size. Therefore, there is a strong need to develop new transfection carrier/payload formulations that are size-controlled, shelf-stable, and can be used in a variety of cell types.
Stage of Development
Technical bench top validation complete.
Publication
N/A
