Our Technologies
Precision Medicine
This signal and reception exchange is the chemo-electric version of a “fingerprint” in the pathogen’s chemical structure that is systemically used to gain cell access. AptAvian™ systems apply its patented technology to read these electronic signals in real time from the interface of a pathogen-of-concern and a tailored aptagenic™, avoiding costly and time-consuming laboratory processes. Depending on the facilities and activities being monitored and protected, detection and surveillance systems can be designed for continuous monitoring of airborne pathogens, batch sampling of facility air, or tests using sampling protocols from other media such as water, excretions, or bedding (animals).
In addition to monitoring, detection, and surveillance applications, crafted aptagenics™ can be nebulized to deliver therapeutic treatments into and through facility air to reach vulnerable respiratory systems (animal or human) where they find-and-bind with airborne pathogens, preventing these dangerous intruders from attaching to host cells. Further aptagenic™ technological development and approvals will enable neutralization and inoculation to further prevent disease outbreaks and spread.
Technology History
These include:
Confirmed aptamer development processes (ligands) for strains of viruses and bacteria to be targeted for surveillance, detection, and therapeutics.
Original design, engineering, and construction of detection chambers, enhanced by further collaboration with Dept. of Physics and Nanotechnology Laboratories at McGill University.
Designed and developed aerosampler to collect airborne pathogens (viruses and mycoplasma) in collaboration with the NIOSH/NIH.
Developed a proprietary electronic circuitry to manually control the detection system.
Completed the development of an R&D prototype for: SIV, PRRS and Mycoplasma Hyo-pneumoniae.
Developed a commercial prototype with capability to detect four (4) different viruses independently and simultaneously, demonstrating its operation successfully to NRC-CNRC.
Miniaturized and optimized the commercial prototype and enabled with embedded computer control system, including a user-friendly touch screen interface, 100% wireless functioning.
Tested, under controlled conditions, the functioning of the commercial prototype for PRRS and for Mycoplasma Hyopneumoniae virus to achieve best functionality.
Tested, under in-vivo controlled conditions, the efficacy of aptamers to treat infected swine with PRRS viruses (strain 2), or with Mycoplasma Hyopneumoniae.
Invested into Intellectual Property protection (i.e., patenting) to cover process, equipment, consumables, and therapeutic discoveries.
Technology Processes
The foundational platform for AptAvian™ technologies is a unique methodology to create and deploy aptamers for use in surveilling, detecting, neutralizing, and ultimately providing therapeutics for pathogenic sources and symptoms of diseases as aptabodies.
AptAvian™ crafts state-of-the-art, SELEX based, unique aptamers that bio-mimic a host cell’s receptors and attract a specified pathogen. For detection, the aptagenic™ is further engineered to include add-on materials that generates a readable signal exchange capable of being electronically “detected” once the aptagenic™ binds to the target pathogen.
In a facility setting, the engineered aptagenic™ is mixed with facility air in a medium that is continuously processed with the patented AptAvian™ RD-PDS (Real Time Pathogen Detection System), identifying the presence of the pathogen and its load level.
The engineered aptagenic™ can also be used in a hand-held device or as the active agent in a lateral flow assay that uses samples taken from facility water or the animals being protected. These mobile devices can also be used in open conditions for tracking, surveillance, and monitoring of wildlife as well as husbanded animals.