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

荧光探针包括一个31亿美元的市场，量子点（QD）形成了越来越大的份额。量子点的光稳定性上级于荧光染料，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，但客户已经确定了QD使用的三个限制：（1）亮度不足，（2）在恶劣环境中的不稳定性，特别是暴露于许多生物实验中典型的UV或激光照射，以及（3）“闪烁”，荧光的间歇性损失，限制了单分子跟踪的应用。多点技术，在俄亥俄州州立大学开发的4个独立的NSF赠款，可以潜在地解决这些挑战。MultiDots是复合QD，尺寸与商业QD相似，但与商业颗粒相比，显示5倍的亮度，显着增加的稳定性和减少的闪烁。MultiDot具有巨大的商业潜力，特别是在生物医学成像和诊断床旁检测市场，这提供了最初的市场进入点。I-Corps计划的主要成果将是针对这些市场的市场研究和产品开发，目标是（1）进行/不进行决策，如果适用，（2）确定客户期望的最低功能，并开发和测试具有这些功能的产品，（3）为适当的市场制定商业计划。由于MultiDots可以无缝替代QD竞争对手，因此预计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，这项研究不仅将推动MultiDot技术的商业化，而且还将提供一种新的大规模纳米制造方法，可以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.