I-Corps: Next Generation "MultiDot" Quantum Dots for Biological Imaging

荧光探针拥有31亿美元的市场，量子点（QDs）的份额越来越大。量子点具有优于荧光染料的光稳定性，在生物医学成像领域有着重要的影响。然而，尽管他们取得了成功，客户已经确定了QD使用的三个限制：(1)亮度不足；(2)在恶劣环境下不稳定，特别是暴露在许多生物实验中典型的紫外线或激光照射下；(3)“闪烁”，间歇性荧光丧失，限制了单分子跟踪的应用。由俄亥俄州立大学（Ohio State University）在美国国家科学基金会（NSF）的四项资助下开发的MultiDot技术，有可能解决这些挑战。MultiDots是复合量子点，大小与商用量子点相似，但亮度是商用量子点的5倍，稳定性大大提高，眨眼次数减少。MultiDot具有巨大的商业潜力，特别是在生物医学成像和诊断护理点测试市场，这是最初的市场切入点。I-Corps项目的主要成果将是针对这些市场的市场研究和产品开发，其目标是(1)做出批准或不批准的决定，如果适用的话，(2)确定客户所需的最低功能，并开发和测试具有这些功能的产品，(3)针对适当市场制定商业计划。由于MultiDots可以无缝地替代QD竞争对手，预计MultiDots可以在一年内进入市场。此外，这项研究将允许进行关键的验证实验，这将提高许可的潜力。如果成功，这项研究不仅将推进MultiDot技术的商业化，而且还将提供一种大规模纳米制造的新方法，这种方法有可能应用于其他纳米复合材料。

Fluorescent probes comprise a $3.1B market, with quantum dots (QDs) forming an increasing share. With photostability superior to that of fluorescent dyes QDs have made a significant impact in biomedical imaging. However, despite their success, customers have identified three limitations in QD use: (1) insufficient brightness, (2) instability in harsh environments, particularly exposure to UV or laser illumination typical of many biological experiments, and (3) "blinking", an intermittent loss of fluorescence that limits application in single molecule tracking. The MultiDot technology, developed at Ohio State University under 4 separate NSF grants, can potentially address these challenges. MultiDots are composite QDs, similar in size to commercial QDs, but displaying 5 times the brightness, dramatically increased stability, and reduced blinking compared to commercial particles. The MultiDot has significant commercial potential, most notably in the biomedical imaging and diagnostic point-of-care test markets, which offer initial market entry points. The primary outcome of the I-Corps program will be market research and product development toward those markets, with the goal of (1) a go/no go decision, and if applicable, (2) identification of minimum customer-desired features and development and testing of a product with those features and (3) development of a business plan for appropriate markets. Because the MultiDots can be seamlessly substituted for QD competitors, it is anticipated that MultiDots could enter the market within a year. Additionally, this research will permit critical validation experiments to be performed that will enhance licensing potential. If successful, this research will not only advance the commercialization of the MultiDot technology, but will also provide a new method of large scale nanomanufacturing that can potentially be applied to other nanocomposites.