Press Release
MicroFab receives a Phase II SBIR award from National Institute of Health for the development of an ink-jet based system for protein crystallization.
Plano, Texas (August 1, 2007)
MicroFab Technologies announces the award of a NIH Phase II SBIR program entitled, “Ink-jet System for Protein Crystallization”. This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project has the objective of designing and building an ink-jet based system for the microdeposition of protein and crystallization solutions in the performance of high-throughput, small fluid volume protein crystallization screening experiments. The 3D structure of protein molecules can then be obtained from the resulting crystals using x-ray diffraction analysis. These 3D structures are widely used in the pharmaceutical industry in the determination of how drug lead compounds interact with protein targets and by academic researchers to understand how a particular macromolecule functions. However, obtaining a sufficient amount of protein and crystals for x-ray diffraction analysis has proved challenging. The ink-jet based crystallization screening platform to be developed will address these issues by permitting the crystallographer to conserve their limited protein samples, while providing more rapid crystallization process associated with using ultra-small drop volumes.
About the Company
Based in Plano, Texas, MicroFab Technologies has pioneered digital microdispensing technologies for the past 18 years. MicroFab’s mission is to be the leading global supplier of printing platforms, devices, and services that enable high-payoff applications for microdispensing and precision printing in a wide range of industries. Commercial applications of the technology include microdispensing of electrical and optical polymers, bioactive materials (Proteins, DNA, Reagents), solder, adhesives, and nanoparticle laden fluids.
Contact Information
MicroFab Technologies is at www.microfab.com. Contact Dr. David B. Wallace, Vice-President, Technology Development, at microinfo3@microfab.com or by phone at 972-578-8076 (ext. 12).