Automated High-throughput Platform for Tissue Homogenization and RNA Extraction

总结

Summary The overall market size for nucleic acid sample preparation for research and the four applied markets of food testing, cosmetics, veterinary medicine, and molecular diagnostics total $5.7 billion in 2012 and with a moderate CAGR of 10 % is projected to $9.7 billion in 2016 12-5. Extraction of nucleic acids from tissue has become a crowded field yet sample preparation and isolation of RNA still relies heavily on manual steps. Providing a rapid, automated system for tissue preparation and RNA isolation is an unmet need. We have a unique cell and tissue lysing system, the microHomogenizer (mH), which is a low cost, disposable and rapidly effective homogenizing unit. It consists of a disposable motor and vane that attaches to a pipette tip. This facilitates ready adaptation to any robotic liquid handing system for automation and multiplexing. We are poised to multiplex eight samples at a time for homogenization in a microtiter format, thereby enabling automation of the subsequent RNA extraction protocol for 96 samples at a time. The extraction system of 100¿ mono-dispersed beads packed into small columns facilitates extraction protocols that transcend the need of a centrifuge. This enables rapid automation of the extraction protocols in a microtiter format, up 96 samples at time.