The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation of Madison has received US Patent No. 7,722,824, "Synthesis of arrays of oligonucleotides and other chain molecules." The patent claims a method of synthesizing arrays of chain molecules, such as oligonucleotides, in large quantities. The method can be carried out by projecting the molecules onto an active surface using a light-emitting object. Specifically, projection optics mirrors receive the light emitted from the object and image the pattern of the array onto the active surface of the substrate.
WARF has also received US Patent No. 7,723,126, "Plasma-enhanced functionalization of inorganic oxide surfaces." The patent claims methods for producing plasma-treated, functionalized inorganic oxide surfaces. The methods include subjecting an oxide surface to a plasma to create hydroxyl functionalities on the surface, and reacting the hydroxyl functionalities with epoxy group-containing molecules in situ in the absence of plasma. Biomolecules may then be immobilized on the resulting functionalized surfaces. The methods may be used to treat a variety of oxide surfaces, including glass, quartz, silica, and metal oxides, according to the patent.
MDS Analytical Technologies of Sunnyvale, Calif., has received US Patent No. 7,723,039, "Gene expression profiling from FFPE samples." The patent describes a method for the global amplification and analysis of polyadenylated RNA from cells of a deparaffinized formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sample. The method includes contacting RNA extracted from cells with a primer comprising an oligo dT sequence under conditions that result in the synthesis of cDNA strands; amplifying the cDNA strands to produce amplified molecules; and hybridizing the amplified molecules to a microarray, where the hybridizing produces signals that reflect expressed polyadenylated RNA in the cells.
Aviva Biosciences of San Diego has received US Patent No. 7,723,029, "Biochips including ion transport detecting structures and methods of use." The patent provides biochips that can be used for the direct analysis of ion transport functions or properties. The biochips make use of microfabricated structures that can allow for automated detection of one or more ion transport functions or properties, particularly for screening purposes, according to the patent.