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Kansas State University

Research Foundation
Kansas State University
2005 Research Park Circle
Suite 105
Manhattan, KS 66502-5020
Tel: 785-532-5720
Fax: 785-532-3920
tech.transfer@k-state.edu

Fluorescence Assays for Serine Proteases

Reference Number: 07-27

Inventors: Stephan H. Bossmann; Deryl L. Troyer; Matthew T. Basel

Background:

Serine proteases are markers for the ability of many cancers to grow and to form metastases. Several serine proteases are over-expressed by numerous cancer cell lines. Elevated expression levels of urokinase and several other components of the plasminogen activation system are found to be correlated with tumor malignancy.

This invention is comprised of a urokinase cleavage sequence, which is used as a linker between two fluorophores (quantum dots and/or organic or inorganic dyes). Depending on the nanoparticles used, optical (fluorescence), magnetic (MRI), and x-ray imaging of the tumor location and extension, together with quantitative determination of the urokinase activity, can be performed. This assay method is useful for the quantitative determination of any enzyme that can cleave a specific linker between two fluorphores.

Advantages:

Advantages of this IP over previous methods:

  • Assays are
    • Faster
    • Much less time demanding
    • Easier to use
    • Less costly
  • Assays can be performed
    • In vivo
    • In vitro
  • Permit a new area of accurate cancer prognosis leading to a more individual treatment of cancer patients

Applications

This innovative technology can be used to:

  • Quantitative determination of the urokinase-activity of all cancers that over-express urokinase
  • ng of optical (fluorescence), magnetical (MRI), and x-ray imaging of the tumor location and extension, together with a quantitative determination of the urokinase activity
  • Method is suitable to be applied within the brain tissue (intercranial infiltration)

Patent Status

  • Provisional patent application filed in March 2008.

Kansas State University Research Foundation seeks to have discussions with companies that are interested in licensing and/or research collaborations.

Interested parties should contact:

National Institute for Strategic Technology Acquisition and Commercialization (NISTAC)
2005 Research Park Circle Manhattan, KS 66502
Tel: 785-532-3900 Fax: 785-532-3909
E-Mail: nistac@ksu.edu