Science Overview
Jaden believes that ultrasensitive detection of rare cells and proteins will have a significant impact in enabling new scientific discoveries and detecting and monitoring clinically relevant biomarkers. Jaden has developed numerous ultrasensitive chemiluminescent signal generation and detection systems that are being adapted into simple analyte detection formats. Jaden's ultrasensitive assays are based on systems that have the capability of detecting down to 5 enzyme molecules in 5 μL. This technology is expected to be competitive in analyte detection sensitivity to current target amplification methods such as PCR. Jaden's technology uses non-target amplification methods and can readily be used to detect either protein or nucleic acid analytes.
In the growing areas of immunology, cancer and infectious disease detection, Jaden is developing ultrasensitive methods of detecting specific cell surface markers on intact cells without the need for flow cytometry. Most clinical assays utilizing either flow cytometry or PCR methods require 1-3 mL of blood to perform their tests. However, obtaining this amount of blood in developing countries is problematic because many in the world's rural areas do not have access to test laboratories with phlebotomists to draw blood, nor do they have immediate access to high technology laboratories with expensive equipment and highly trained technicians to perform these types of tests. Blood samples are routinely shipped to other distant locations for testing adding to the cost burden for these tests. In contrast, Jaden's assays can be used in either high or low technology laboratories, do not require highly trained technicians, are easy-to-use, instruments are relatively inexpensive, and the assay can use between 10 to 1000 cells (~50 to 100 microliters), which can be easily obtained from either a finger prick or an infant heel prick blood sample.
In the research arena, Jaden's tests are enabling new scientific discoveries. Because Jaden's assays are ultrasensitve, very low sample volumes are required. This allows the research scientist to conserve precious test samples especially in the area of stem cell research.
Future applications of this technology will include the ultrasensitive detection of both proteins and nucleic acid markers for cytokines, infectious disease and cancer biomarkers. Jaden has patent filings covering this as well as other methodologies.