Genome mapping
Ref-Nr: TA-2255
Kurzfassung
· Patent application at the German Patent and Trade Mark Office.
Genome mapping of DNA stretched on hydrogels
Hintergrund
DNA analysis including large structural variations (copy-number variations, deletions etc.) and methylation patterns (epigenetics) is becoming ever more important for early detection and differential disease diagnosis, especially in oncology, where this type of information can enable the choice of therapeutic strategies tailored to each patient’s need. Using a simple yet sensitive and reliable optical analysis approach would offer clear advantages compared to prevailing biochemical analysis (short read sequencing approaches). In order to use fluorescence microscopy for such purposes (optical DNA mapping) a transformation of the entropically favored coiled conformation of the DNA to a linearized form needs to be achieved (DNA stretching).
Bilder & Videos
Lösung
Researchers at RWTH Aachen have developed a proprietary technology of stretching DNA on hydrogels (“hydrogel chips”), allowing for the optical analysis with standard fluorescence microscopes. This technology offers several advantages, not only compared to sequencing strategies but also in comparison to nanofluidic technologies and DNA combing based approaches.
Vorteile
- Cost effective solution
- Available - fluorescence microscopes form part of the “standard” lab equipment
- Very flexible, can be adjusted depending on the question addressed
Anwendungsbereiche
Diagnostics, Medical Research
Service
- Patent application at the German Patent and Trade Mark Office.
- Proof of concept, ongoing research
RWTH Aachen University is looking for partners for patent exploitation and for research partners for joint development.
Anbieter

RWTH Aachen University
Marieke Sternkopf
0241 8096612
ipm@rwth-aachen.de
www.rwth-innovation.de
Adresse
Campus-Boulevard 57
52074 Aachen
Entwicklungsstand
Machbarkeit
Stichworte
#DNA Stretching; #Epigenetics #Hydrogels; #Structural variationsAngebot Anbieter-Website