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                                January, 2004, Vol.1 Number 1                     

                                       

 

                       
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Nanogen's new patent boosts competition in biochip industry
The new Nanogen patent describes a unique electric field 'pick and place' process that facilitates 
the bringing together or integration of diverse DNA nanocomponents, thereby helping solve difficult scaling issues. Combining the top-down electric field process with the bottom-up DNA self-
assembly process enables more selective and higher precision incorporation of nanoscale 
components into higher order devices and structures," said Dr. Michael J. Heller, co-founder of  Nanogen, one of the inventors, and currently a Professor in the Departments of Bioengineering 
and Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of California, San Diego. "The technology described by Nanogen's new patent may provide a technological foundation for the effective use of nanocomponents in many diverse applications, " said  Nanogen Chairman and Chief Executive 
Howard Birndorf, adding that the company plans to pursue licensing and partnering opportunities.

The new nanotechnology patent relates to a nanofabrication technology that combines an 
electric field assisted manufacturing platform and programmable self-assembling nanostructures
(for example, DNA building blocks) for the fabrication of a wide range of unique higher-order 
nano and microscale devices, structures, and materials. The nanofabrication platform and 
process would be used for:

 (1) producing new nanoscale electronic and photonic devices and structures, including high-density 2D and 3D data storage materials, 2D and 3D photonic  crystal structures, hybrid electronic/photonic devices such as large area light emitting flat panel arrays and displays, and for the fabrication of 
highly integrated medical diagnostic and biosensor devices; 

(2) organization, assembly and interconnection of nanostructures and submicron components onto 
silicon wafers and other materials;

(3) integration of nanostructures within reformed microelectronic and optoelectronic structures; 

(4) production of precision modified nanoparticles (for example, photonic crystals, nanospheres and quantum dots) which can then more efficiently self-assemble into 2D and 3D structures and 
materials (photonic band gap  structures, nanocomposite materials and so forth); and 

(5) fabrication of selectively addressable DNA nanoarray substrates and materials.

The patent represents a unique nanofabrication technology which combines the best aspects of top-down microfabrication processes with bottom-up biological type self-assembly processes for producing novel nanodevices and nanostructures. The process is highly parallel and has an inherent hierarchical logic allowing one to control the organization, assembly and communication of 
components from the molecular and nanoscale into macroscale devices and structures.

About Nanogen

Nanogen, Inc. develops and commercializes molecular diagnostic products for the gene-based 
testing market. The Company seeks to establish the NanoChip(R) Molecular Biology Workstation 
and NanoChip(R) Cartridge as the standard platform for the detection of genetic mutations and is
 also developing its technology for forensic and biowarfare applications. Nanogen offers Analyte 
Specific Reagents and related products to research laboratories and  clinical reference labs for the detection of genetic mutations associated with a variety of diseases, including cystic fibrosis, Alzheimer's disease, hereditary hemochromatosis, cardiovascular disease, beta thalassemia and Canavan disease. The unique, open-architecture design of its NanoChip(R) System provides 
laboratories with a flexible platform to develop  and validate tests to quickly, accurately, and cost effectively detect mutations associated with  the diagnoses, prediction, screening, treatment and monitoring of diseases. The NanoChip(R) System is intended for laboratory use only. For additional information please visit Nanogen's website at www.nanogen.com .

Source: Nanogen News Releases, December 2003

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Copyright ŠTechnology Management Newsletter, 2004