Description:
Reference #: 1742
The University of South Carolina is offering licensing opportunities for Fluorogenic bioconjugation of cyclopropanol-containing fluorophores for biological applications.
Background:
Fluorophores have been used in various applications of cellular microbiology, most notably with the reporting functions associated with various biological and chemical molecules and compounds. Fluorophores work by absorbing light of a particular wavelength and emitting that same absorbed energy at a slightly longer wavelength (which means the energy emitted is less energetic than the energy absorbed). The remaining energy is lost as heat. The difference in energy that was absorbed and emitted can be measured as used to give data on various molecules and biological compounds. These fluorophores can also be conjugated to other biomolecules, including proteins, nucleotides, and lipids.
Fluorophores usually require large illumination sources as they have low quantum efficacy, and thus low fluorescent signals.
Invention Description:
This invention is a novel non-fluorescent cyclopropanol-containing fluorophore that subsequently leaves ring-opening reactions to afford fluorescent bioconjugates. The resulting bioconjugates yield a significant increase of the fluorescent signal, thereby increasing the quantum efficacy of the fluorophore bioconjugate.
Potential Applications:
Biological research and diagnostics, cell labeling
Advantages and Benefits:
The invention yields a much more sensitive fluorescent signal that current fluorophores on the market that are utilized for cellular and biological research.