Redefining multiplex testing
Guanine has developed a rapid, simple and inexpensive method to amplify detection signals of low concentration biological materials at a fraction of the price of optical technologies. Rather than replicating millions of copies with time-intensive cultures or resource-intensive PCR, Guanine binds detection targets with millions of electroactive guanine molecules. Not only are low concentrations detected they are also quantified like a glucose meter for biological materials. Guanine assays can measure nucleic acids, proteins, cells, small molecules and redox species from the same sample and multiplex a large number of targets in diverse sample types. Digital test results can be transmitted to a database or used as input to an AI algorithm. |
Benefits
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Guanine's patented detection tag changes biodetection from optical to electrical
Electrochemical sensors are readily used in chemical and biological testing such as glucose meters because of their speed, ease of use and low cost. However an electrochemical sensor’s limit of detection (LOD) is typically 10^6 to 10^8 electroactive species per mL which is insufficient for many applications. Guanine’s patented electrochemical oligonucleotide tag comprises long sequences of electroactive nucleotides (polyG, polyA, polyT or polyC). |
Tags are delivered on a magnetic microparticle (MP) with ligands. Low concentrations are detected with bigger MPs that deliver more tags per target. For example, a 3-micrometer MP with 20-mer polyG tags delivers 10^8 electroactive guanine per target. MP-target-electrode sandwiches generate an electrical current peak which is proportional to the target’s concentration. A blank electrode before sandwiches are made produces a variable electrical current which is used to determine the LOD. Tags are pre-fabricated into quadruplexes to produce stronger 8-oxoguanine signals that are not affected by guanine signals from targets and capture probes. Filtering a large sample volume provides more targets for detection to further reduce the LOD.
Magnetic microparticles have the added benefit of a) using magnetic purification to remove nonspecific materials that interfere with binding and inhibit detection, b) enabling targets to be captured in large sample volumes bringing more targets for detection, c) improving cell lysis effectiveness and speed with mechanical agitation that shear cell walls, and d) allowing multiplex target capture using a cocktail of different magnetic particle conjugates and a large electrode surface area that binds 10^11 biotinylated recognition ligands. A potentiostat generates a voltammetry scan where guanine on the oligonucleotide tags oxidizes and produces electrical current. The peak electrical signal is converted to the target concentration using a pre-programmed concentration curve.
Magnetic microparticles have the added benefit of a) using magnetic purification to remove nonspecific materials that interfere with binding and inhibit detection, b) enabling targets to be captured in large sample volumes bringing more targets for detection, c) improving cell lysis effectiveness and speed with mechanical agitation that shear cell walls, and d) allowing multiplex target capture using a cocktail of different magnetic particle conjugates and a large electrode surface area that binds 10^11 biotinylated recognition ligands. A potentiostat generates a voltammetry scan where guanine on the oligonucleotide tags oxidizes and produces electrical current. The peak electrical signal is converted to the target concentration using a pre-programmed concentration curve.
Multi-analyte sensor
Guanine’s multi-analyte sensor configurations electrochemically quantifies nucleic acids, proteins, cells, small molecules, and redox species from the same sample. A common oligonucleotide tag can measure the cumulative signal of all targets on the electrode. Different oligonucleotide tags can measure concentrations of an individual target or a group of targets on the electrode. - - |
Quantitative multi-analyte assays can include:
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Multi-omics sensor
Guanine’s multi-omics sensor configurations electrochemically quantifies combinations of nucleic acid and protein markers to provide rapid and affordable multi-omics data. This is particularly useful for developing AI algorithms for precision medicine. |
Quantitative multi-omics assays can include:
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Microtiter kit for multiplex quantification of low concentration biological materials
Guanine’s Microtiter Kit allows low concentration biological materials to be quantified in a 96 well sensor microtiter. Protocol configurations can quantify a large group of targets in a single well or up to 4 individual targets or groups in a single well. Up to 14 low concentration targets can be quantified in duplicate wells. The microtiter kit can be configured for multiple target types, sample types, detection performance and throughput. Limit of detection can reach 10 to 1000 targets/mL In comparison, a typical ELISA LOD is about 1,000,000 proteins/mL. Same sensor calibration for blank electrode signal and sandwich signal customizes the signal to noise resolution for each sample to improve accuracy. Guanine microtiter kits include:
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Representative microorganism sandwich protocol for 95 sample batch |
Workstation uses
off-the-shelf instruments Guanine microtiter kits operate with off-the-shelf equipment such as PalmSens EmStat Blue 3 potentiostat and Metrohm DropSens 96 well microtiter interface. Sample preparation can vary and may include magnetic separation and shaker for tubes and/or 96 well microtiters, along with a filter holder for filter concentration. |
Rapidly process samples with upcoming mobile device and low cost cartridge
Guanine's upcoming mobile reader will operate Guanine multiplex test cartridges and require no user involvement or lab. Its small size is ideal for testing at the patient’s site or in the field. Features include:
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Upcoming cartridge sensor with 8 electrodes or 36 electrodes |
Guanine's multi-analyte and multi-omics sensors are being integrated into a single-use POC / POU cartridge to enable target extraction, capture, purification and sandwich creation. Test cartridges make use of a specific input mechanism depending on the sample type and volume. An upcoming test cartridge involves (1) input whole blood, bodily fluid or swab, (2) filter concentrate pathogens, (3) lyse pathogens and capture lysed RNA targets on magnetic microparticles with millions of guanine molecules then magnetically separate RNA targets from debris, (4) form magnetic microparticle-RNA-electrode sandwiches on the electrode, and (5) generate electrical current peaks for 36 individual targets in the sample. A mobile reader potentiostat generates a voltammetry scan on each electrode and produce electrical currents. The peak electrical signal is converted to the target concentration using a pre-programmed concentration curve. The output can be transmitted to a database, EHR system and AI algorithm.
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Cartridges will process specific samples to attain
required performance with results in under 1 hour |
Guanine's low cost quantitative mobile data can be a game changer for using AI to diagnose and treat complex illnesses and biological contaminants
Guanine can save thousands of dollars per sample for multi-analyte and multi-omics testing using customizable tests along with database information and images (EHR), patient and environmental data, machine learning and heuristics. Benefits include:
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Guanine’s products can be adapted for many lucrative market applications
Guanine's upcoming multi-analyte multi-omics sensor can provide mobile quantification of 32 targets in a single use cartridge with sample-to-results in under 1 hour. Detection targets can include nucleic acids, proteins, small molecules, cells and redox materials. Digital output can be transmitted to clinical information systems and AI models. The sensor and sample preparation cartridge can be adapted for many lucrative market applications. |
Infections
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Guanine has been incubated at the Mount Sinai Health System. Our predecessor company was a spin-off from NASA's Ames Research Center that commercialized NASA’s electrochemical nanosensor for detecting waterborne pathogens.