(E. Papazoglou, S. Murthy, and J. Reynolds)

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Abstract: Quantum-dot Linked Immuno-Detection Assay, or QLIDA-based tests are inexpensive, fast, and highly sensitive and can quantitatively detect biomarkers in a wide concentration range, and require very small amounts of blood sample. This combination makes QLIDA ideal for rapid, sensitive and quantitative diagnostic applications such as cardiovascular disease and for early stage detection of cancer. QLIDA’s experimental prototype was successfully validated in studies using animal and human samples. QLIDA has three distinct competitive features: novel surface modification chemistry to optimize signal capture and minimize background (enabling accuracy at low concentrations); plastic micro-capillary chip for low cost and ease of manufacture; and a specifically designed simple, low cost imaging system. The combination provides a scalable and quantitative next-generation immunodiagnostics platform adaptable as a test platform for both well established and emerging biomarkers in cardiovascular, cancer and diabetes diagnostics. The project’s first application is a point-of-care or lab-based test for characterizing clinical severity of ischemic heart disease, heart failure, and myocarditis. The test requires only several micro liters of blood drawn from a finger and is performed in a plastic, disposable micro-capillary chip using fluorescently labeled antibodies detecting well established biomarkers of the disease such as troponin (TnT) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP). Proprietary surface modification technology will allow QLIDA to use low cost plastics for the disposable chip coupled with sensitive and simple detection, providing a strongly differentiating platform in the biomarker IVD market. Importantly, in one simple test QLIDA provides quantitative detection of biomarkers of interest even at very low levels of biomarkers, which are increasingly being recognized to have high clinical significance, especially in diagnosing and monitoring patients exhibiting symptoms of acute myocardial infarction.

QLIDA is the basis of Drexel’s spinoff company QLIDA Diagnostics, which has received funding from the Ben Franklin Technology Partners of South Eastern Pennsylvania and a group of private investors. QLIDA Diagnostics would be open to discussions with interested investors in preparation for its future financing.