Device and Method for microRNA Fractionation
Images
Fig. 1. The miRNA fractionation device isolates miRNA from the serum of healthy and breast cancer patients. This method improves the differentiation between healthy controls and cancer patients and it enables the differentiation of the various stages of cancer. The data in blue are healthy patients. The other data points show the ability of the device to stratify breast cancer patients to specific stages (specifically stages I, II, III, IV-A, and IV-B).
Background
There are relationships between microRNA dysregulation and human disease in approximately 168 diseases, including cancers, heart disease, diabetes, alcoholism, and obesity. The market landscape of the US global market for microRNA research tool, services, diagnostics and drug discovery is estimated to grow 13% annually and reach $1 billion in the next 4 years. The market continues to grow with many pharmaceutical and biotech companies becoming more and more involved in microRNA research to discover specific microRNA biomarkers, especially those found in the circulation systems, for diagnostics and therapeutics. However, current techniques are unable to identify which microRNAs are the most appropriate for disease diagnosis.
Brief Description
UCR researchers have developed methods for rapid separation of different microRNA carriers in serum, using specially designed microchips. The platforms obtain three fractions of circulating miRNAs, each fraction corresponding to one carrier type. The miRNA contents in fractions are more sensitive in recognizing patients at various disease stages, compared to the total content, which is the dominant information being used currently in biomarker discovery.
Advantages
- Faster and easier to perform with low cost - 1.5 hours
- Low sample volumes
- Higher degree of automation to avoid variations introduced by human operators
- Improves specificity & sensitivity of diagnosis with fewer markers
Applications
- Companion diagnostics tool
- Discovery of therapeutic drug targets - provides more sensitive and specific biomarkers for diagnosing cancers where early, accurate detection is crucial
Patent Status
| Country | Type | Number | Dated | Case |
| United States Of America | Issued Patent | 9,709,469 | 07/18/2017 | 2012-301 |
Contact
- Grace Yee
- grace.yee@ucr.edu
- tel: View Phone Number.
Other Information
Keywords
microRNA, miRNA, exosomes, isolation, RNA biomarker, cancer, oncology, companion diagnostics, therapeutics, drug discovery, drug development, diagnostic device, diagnostic test, asymmetrical flow field flow fractionation, AF4, liquid biopsy
