Creodyne Files Patent Application on Autonomous, Self-Assembling Nanosystem

Ankeny, IA, March 4, 2015 (Newswire.com) - Ankeny, Iowa March 3, 2015. Creodyne, LLC, announced today filing a US patent application entitled, “Autonomous Self-Assembling DNA Nanodevice for Molecular Interrogation, Detection, Energetics, and Force Measurement” (Application No. 62/120,308). The invention and technology constitute a new paradigm for interrogating interactions between and within molecules, a process that is central to drug discovery, diagnostics, and basic biophysical research and development. This provisional application encompasses the core technology of the R&D arm of the Company.

The Company founder, Dr. Eric Henderson, discussed the technology and its utility saying, “Research efforts over the last thirty years have culminated in an understanding of the engineering code embedded in DNA. Thus, DNA not only encodes the essence of life but also contains rules for sculpting virtually any 2D or 3D shape. Using this engineering code we have created a self-assembling nanosystem containing user-addressable actuators, moving parts, and an embedded photonic “light bulb” that tells the user what is going on at the nanoscale. Various control elements within the system exert force and energy fields at specific locations. By controlling these forces we can test interactions between molecules, or even specific parts of molecules, and measure the energetics and forces involved in these interactions. Key to the power of this technology is the malleability of DNA. We can attach virtually any molecular type to the DNA platform, including pathogen biomarkers and putative drug candidates. Since this a system is made out of synthetic DNA it is extraordinarily economical in comparison to laboratory instrumentation used for molecular investigation and analysis such as the atomic force microscope and optical tweezers.”

In describing the R&D and commercialization vision for the nanosystem Henderson said, “As we develop uses of this technology we will initiate a parallel program to develop a smartdevice (tablet, smart phone) field-deployable reader so the technology can be implemented anywhere on the planet with the ability to instantaneously report the results via the existing global telecommunication infrastructure. It is too early to begin the commercialization process but not too early to be thinking about it and tuning our business development strategy as the R&D program progresses.”