G
TECHNOLOGY/BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
CARBON NANOTUBE TRANS-MEMBRANE CHANNELS MIMICKING BIOLOGICAL PORINS
Opportunity: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), operated by the Lawrence Livermore National Security (LLNS), LLC under contract no. DE-AC52-07NA27344 (Contract 44) with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is offering the opportunity to establish partnerships to conduct further research and development of this technology and obtain licensing rights for commercialization.
Background:
Existing examples of nanopores fall into three categories: synthetic ion channels made by bottom-up synthesis and providing a mimic of the transmembrane pore, solid-state nanopores, usually drilled or etched out of solid pieces of material matrix, and biological nanopores made by isiolating a naturally-occurring protein.
Description:
LLNL's carbon nanotube trans-membrane channels invention is a new class of nanopores that combines the best features of all three existing types of pores while substantially mitigating a number of shortcomings exhibited by each of these types of pores.
The method involves sonication of nanotube in presence of lipids, including but not limited to DOPC or DPhPC. One advantage of this structure is the extended stability at room and/or elevated temperature.
Advantages:
LLNL researchers have demonstrated that short CNT channels provide an excellent mimic of a biological channel, including spontaneous insertion into the lipid membrane and efficient transport of water, ions and small macromolecules, such as DNA, across the bilayer.
Potential Applications:
(1) Providing a method to produce and synthesize ultra-short nanotube, with length of ~2-15 nm nanometer. This method might also be applicable to produce other short nanotubes beside those made of carbon.
(2) Providing a structure that consists of short nanotube incorporated in the membrane of lipid vesicles can be used for the spontaneous or forced incorporation of nanotubes into lipid membrane, such as planar lipid bilayer, liposome vesicles; and also incorporation into cell membrane. This activity mimics the functionality of biological membrane proteins, including enabling the ion and molecule transport from one side of the membrane to another.
(3) This CNP structure can be used to deliver therapeutic, imaging, transfection and other agents into human or mammalian cells for various purposes. The agents can be either incorporated inside the vesicles, or conjugated to the carbon nanotubes, or the combination of both;
(4) The CNPs can be used as therapeutic or an antimicrobial agents to kill microorganisms and lyse cell membranes;
(5) The CNP opening can be modulated by transmembrane voltage, chemical gating, and covalently attached "gatekeeper" moieties;
(6) CNPs can be used for biosensing applications taking advantage of exceptional chemical and biological stability of CNPs. It can also be integrated into bioelectronics devices or lab-on-a-chip architectures.
(7) CNP can be used as a synthetic nanopore for direct readout single-chain sequencing of DNA and other polymer chains.
Development Status:
LLNL has an extensive patent portfolio covering its CNP & CNT technology research and development.
US 8,940,173 Membranes with functionalized carbon nanotube pores for selective transport
US 7,544,978 and 7,745,856 Lipid nanotube or nanowire sensor
US 7,569,850 Lipid bilayers on nano-templates
US 62/060494 (unpublished) Carbon nanotube trans-membrane channels mimicking biological porins
LLNL's CNP & CNT research has also been published in several journals:
Stochastic transport through carbon nanotubes in lipid bilayers and live cell membranes
Osmotically-Driven Transport in Carbon Nanotube Porins
LLNL is seeking industry partners with a demonstrated ability to bring such inventions to the market. Moving critical technology beyond the Laboratory to the commercial world helps our licensees gain a competitive edge in the marketplace. All licensing activities are conducted under policies relating to the strict nondisclosure of company proprietary information.
Please visit the IPO website at https://ipo.llnl.gov/?q=resources-industry-working_with_us
for more information on working with LLNL and the industrial partnering and technology transfer process.
Note: THIS IS NOT A PROCUREMENT. Companies interested in commercializing LLNL's CARBON NANOTUBE TRANS-MEMBRANE CHANNELS MIMICKING BIOLOGICAL PORINS should provide a written statement of interest, which includes the following:
1. Company Name and address.
2. The name, address, and telephone number of a point of contact.
•3. A description of corporate expertise and facilities relevant to commercializing this technology.
Written responses should be directed to:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Industrial Partnerships Office
P.O. Box 808, L-795
Livermore, CA 94551-0808
Attention: FBO 298-15
Please provide your written statement within thirty (30) days from the date this announcement is published to ensure consideration of your interest in LLNL's CARBON NANOTUBE TRANS-MEMBRANE CHANNELS MIMICKING BIOLOGICAL PORINS.