Nanotechnology Now - Press Release: Starpharma's DNT Priostar(TM) Dendrimers Significantly Improve Properties of Marketed Fluorescent Reagents

Home > Press > Starpharma's DNT Priostar(TM) Dendrimers Significantly Improve Properties of Marketed Fluorescent Reagents

Abstract:
Starpharma (ASX:SPL, OTCQX: SPHRY), through its US subsidiary company Dendritic
Nanotechnologies Inc (DNT), has found that DNT's Priostar(TM) dendrimer
technology can be used to amplify the signal and increase the duration of
the signal (photostability) of existing products in the multi-billion
dollar fluorescent reagents market. The company has filed a patent for the
discovery through DNT.

Starpharma's DNT Priostar(TM) Dendrimers Significantly Improve Properties of Marketed Fluorescent Reagents

MELBOURNE, Australia | Posted on May 7th, 2007

Fluorescent reagents are used extensively in laboratories for high-
throughput screening, diagnostic immunoassays, microarrays, fluorescence
microscopy, genomics and proteomics. Strong signals and photostability are
extremely important properties as they increase the sensitivity of
detection methods and facilitate measurement of the signal, respectively.

Increased sensitivity is needed to study disease markers that are
present at very low levels -- often below those detectable with current
technologies.

Using its Priostar(TM) technology, DNT has created dye-dendrimer
complexes from various commercial dyes that show significantly enhanced
fluorescent (greater than 10 fold) and photostability (greater than 4
fold), in addition to improved solubility in water.

Preliminary testing has shown that the enhanced properties of
Priostar(TM) dendrimer-dye complexes are retained after attachment to an
antibody, an integral component for many of the applications of fluorescent
dyes.

"Market feedback indicates that the scientific community and industry
users of these products will highly value the availability of reagents with
increased sensitivity and photostability," said Dr. Lori Reyna, director of
life sciences at DNT. Scientists are always keen to increase the
sensitivity of detection and quantitation methods."

DNT will partner with established leaders in the diagnostic and
research reagent industries through licensing and supply agreements. The
initial commercialization target will be the research reagent and in vitro
diagnostic markets. DNT is currently in preliminary commercialization
discussions with the market leaders in the area of fluorescence reagents.

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About Starpharma
Starpharma Holdings Limited (ASX:SPL, OTCQX:SPHRY) is a world leader in
the development of dendrimer nanotechnology for pharmaceutical,
life-science and other applications. SPL is principally composed of two
operating companies, Starpharma Pty Ltd in Melbourne, Australia and
Dendritic Nanotechnologies, Inc in Michigan, USA.

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Contacts:
Media:
Rebecca Wilson
Buchan Consulting
Tel: +61 2 9237 2800
Mob: +61 417 382 391

Starpharma:
Dr Jackie Fairley
Chief Executive Officer Starpharma Holdings Ltd
+61 3 8532 2704

Dr Robert Berry
President
DNT
Tel: 989.774.1799

Ben Rogers
Company Secretary
Starpharma Holdings Ltd
+61 3 8532 2702