Circulomics Awarded Phase I SBIR to Develop Nanobind Extraction Method for FFPE Samples

BALTIMORE, MD--(Marketwired - September 24, 2014) - Circulomics Inc has been awarded a Phase I Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) grant by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop its Nanobind DNA and RNA isolation technology for formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples. This grant was made by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences to create a novel method for extracting molecular information from archived tissues. FFPE sample archives contain a wealth of molecular biomarker information that can be compared to standard histological analysis and correlated to clinical outcomes. However, the DNA and RNA isolated from FFPE samples are often degraded due to damage from the FFPE preservation process as well as contaminated by residual formalin and paraffin wax.

Unlike bead and column based extraction methods which can fragment nucleic acids by imparting high shear forces, Nanobind uses an inexpensive thermoplastic material containing a hierarchical structure of microscale folds topped by nanoscale wrinkles to create a high surface area silica substrate that can bind and release large amounts of high molecular weight (MW) DNA and RNA without fragmenting it. Nanobind has >10X greater binding capacity than typical columns or beads and can extract over 150 micrograms of DNA using a single 1.5 mL tube. DNA integrity and purity rival phenol-chloroform extraction using a process that is even simpler than spin column.

This project will leverage the unique properties of Nanobind and Circulomics' expertise in nucleic acid manipulation to create a simple method for extracting the highest quality DNA and RNA from both archived and freshly processed FFPE samples. Nanobind FFPE technology will complement other Nanobind kits being developed under a previously awarded SBIR grant for DNA and RNA extraction from cultured cells, tissues, and body fluids to form a comprehensive sample preparation platform.

About Circulomics

Circulomics Inc is developing a vertically-integrated portfolio of tools to encompass the entire molecular analysis workflow from sample preparation to assays and detection instruments. To date, Circulomics has been awarded nearly $1.3 M in grant funding to develop its Nanobind DNA/RNA extraction technology, Ligo-miR multiplex miRNA assay, and PicoSep single molecule DNA sizing instrument. Circulomics expects to launch its first commercial products based on Ligo-miR and Nanobind technology in 2014-2015.