Biomatrica Announces Patent Award for Novel Method of Stabilizing and Storing Biological Materials to Improve Downstream Testing

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 6, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Biomatrica, Inc. announced today that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued the company a patent for Biomatrica's invention of its core technology for stabilizing biological materials dry at ambient temperatures. The technology covered by this new patent allows for improved accuracy in diagnostic and other applications in which biological materials are measured because it protects biological samples from degradation prior to testing.

The patent, U.S. Patent No. 8,900,856 B2, specifies that "The invention may be used for storage of dry samples and for storage at ambient temperature, and also may have use for the storage of diverse biological materials and samples, such as but not limited to DNA, RNA, blood, urine, other biological fluids." Additionally, the patent covers, "buccal swabs, bacteria, viruses, PCR products, cloned DNA, proteins, cells and tissues, or other biological samples."

"These  and  related  embodiments  thus  provide  surprising advantages associated with unrefrigerated dry storage of biologicals, including improved stabilization and preservation of biological activity in biological samples, reduced degradation of biological samples during storage at room temperature in dried form (and in particular through the use of a protective matrix), and simplification of the processes for preparing biological samples for further use by reducing or eliminating the need for time-consuming re-calibration and aliquoting of such samples."

"The invention allows for purification and size fractionation of DNA, RNA, cells, cellular components and other biological materials,  minerals,  chemicals,  or compositions  derived from a biological sample or other life sciences related sample. The invention thus readily permits, for example, the use of one or a plurality  of biological  materials  and/or biological samples in the performance of molecular biology procedures, including but not limited to PCR, biopolymer (e.g., poly­ nucleotide, polypeptide, or other biopolymer) sequencing, oligonucleotide primer  extension,  haplotyping  (e.g.,  DNA haplotyping)  and restriction  mapping  in one unified,  integrated and easy-to-use platform. The invention also readily permits, for example and in certain embodiments, the use of one or a plurality of biological samples and/or biological materials for the performance of protein crystallography.  In other embodiments there is provided a platform for use, testing or detection (including diagnostic applications) of an antibody or small molecule  (whether naturally occurring or artificial) or other biological molecule, for example, a protein, polypeptide,  peptide,  amino  acid,  or  derivative  thereof;  a lipid, fatty acid or the like, or derivative thereof; a carbohydrate, saccharide  or the like or derivative thereof,  a nucleic acid, nucleotide, nucleoside, purine, pyrimidine or related molecule, or derivative thereof, or the like; or another biological molecule that is a constituent of a biological sample."

According to Biomatrica Founder and CEO, Dr. Judy Muller-Cohn, "Our patented technology was inspired by a natural biological mechanism called 'anhydrobiosis' (life without water) that enables certain eukaryotic extremophiles, such as tardigrades, to survive while dry for up to 120 years. During these extended time periods, DNA, RNA, proteins, membranes and cellular systems are protected and can be revived by simple rehydration. Biomatrica's biostability platform mimics this natural phenomenon with a synthetic chemistry-based stabilization technology. The technology developed works by forming a thermo-stable barrier securely around nucleic acids to provide protection against degradation and loss of biological activity, effectively 'shrink-wrapping' the sample until stabilized biological sample is needed for use."

"The issuance of this broad patent is extremely exciting for us," commented Biomatrica President and Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Rolf Muller. "It is the culmination of 9 years of work to develop, test and apply our unique stabilization technology to enable a major leap forward in the process of storing and shipping biological materials in the healthcare and life sciences fields."

About Biomatrica, Inc.
Biomatrica is a leading provider of innovative products for stabilizing biological samples and assays at ambient temperatures. Biomatrica's product range maintains the integrity of analytes from collection to detection in the diagnostics workflow. The company's products have been adopted and validated by leading government forensic agencies, academic research institutions, global biobanks, molecular diagnostic companies, and laboratories around the world.

SOURCE Biomatrica, Inc.