Accelr8 announces publication of study on OptiChem bio-coatings

Accelr8 Technology Corporation announced today that two teams of university research collaborators report new methods for scalable production with the company’s patented OptiChem bio-coatings.

Led by Dr. David Grainger at the University of Utah, researchers from the University of Utah, the University of Washington, and Accelr8 developed production-scalable methods to make OptiChem surface micro-patterns for live-cell and biomolecular attachment. The new study overcame the technical obstacles that have limited previous high-performance, patterned bio-coatings to laboratory-scale fabrication.

Examples of potential applications include cell patterning for candidate molecule screening in drug development, and tissue generation for regenerative medicine. Patterned coatings also offer new opportunities for innovative bio-sensor designs that can use live cells as sensing elements for multiplexed diagnostic devices. Implanted medical devices can benefit from coatings that have selective properties to spatially select or promote tissue ingrowth, or prevent tissue adhesion, or to inhibit bacterial seeding that can develop into an infection. Advanced cell culturing methods for cancer and stem cell research could use patterned surfaces in microfluidic devices to enhance analysis of specific biological properties. Accelr8 hopes to attract commercial partners for markets that would benefit from such selective patterning innovations.

To demonstrate the coating’s success, the scientists allowed live mammalian cells to self-select and attach to activated capture zones that alternated with inert zones in target micro-patterns. Adherent cells grew and behaved normally for many days, and remained selectively confined to the capture zones. The inert regions blocked encroachment by growing cells, and prevented bio-fouling by cellular byproducts and serum-based culture media.

The new findings extend Accelr8’s previously published results for OptiChem applications in surface modification and microarraying. The study is appearing in Advanced Functional Materials, a top-ranked materials science journal (www3.interscience.wiley.com).

“This new contribution represents a significant innovation in OptiChem application. It shows OptiChem’s potential for large-scale commercialization in sophisticated biomedical products. The collaborative scientific team carefully validated each surface modification step and pattern performance with state-of-the-art analytical tools, and mapped the pattern chemistry to the biological functions. The work also shows potential for developing new applications that use live human cells, such as cancer cell biology. Our bio-coating development complements our BACcel™ rapid diagnostic platform development and offers an independent line of future revenues,” Howson concluded.

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