The California Nanosystems Institute at UCLA Purchases Preclinical Optical Molecular Imaging System From ART Advanced Research T
September 10 2008 - 10:30AM
Marketwired
ART Advanced Research Technologies Inc. ("ART") (TSX: ARA), a
Canadian medical device company and a leader in optical molecular
imaging products for the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries,
is pleased to announce the sale of the optical molecular imaging
Optix� MX2 system to the California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI) at
UCLA, in Los Angeles.
The CNSI will be using Optix as part of its cutting-edge
research in the development and evaluation of nanoparticles (known
as quantum dots), which act as sensitive probes that home in on
specific biological targets, all the time glowing in distinctive
colors and functionalized with various biological molecules
including nucleic acids, proteins, peptides, small compounds, as
found in complex environments such as the living cell.
Dr. Shimon Weiss, the head of the Single Molecule Biophysics
Group at UCLA and the director of the CNSI's Advanced Light
Microscopy/Spectroscopy Core Facility and Macro-Scale Imaging Core
Facility, and Dr. Laurent Bentolila, the cores' scientific
director, are leading this research. "In building our world class
In Vivo Imaging Shared Facility, we knew we wanted to have an ART
Optix MX2 time-domain based fluorescence imaging system as an
important part of our comprehensive collection of instrumentation
for macro-scale molecular imaging. We plan to leverage the Optix
MX2's powerful combination of unmatched sensitivity in the
detection of quantum dots, as well as the system's capabilities for
fluorescence lifetime gating for multiplexing signals, 3D
reconstruction, and coregistration with microCT, to apply our
quantum dot compounds in a multitude of biological pathways in in
vivo models, and we are very pleased to have the Optix MX2 as part
of those plans," Dr. Weiss said.
"Semiconductor quantum dots have emerged as very sensitive
optical probes that can be used to target, detect, and image
fundamental events that occur within a biological system.
Near-infrared quantum dots, such as those capable of being detected
by ART's Optix system, are proving to be important tools for
researchers who need to obtain enhanced signal detection for deep
tissue imaging. We are proud that the CNSI has selected our unique
optical imaging system, Optix, to be part of their world-leading
research and innovation in this important research area," said
Sebastien Gignac, Chairman & CEO of ART. The CNSI facility at
UCLA will provide for the training of individuals such as basic
research scientists, clinicians, technologists, and support
personnel interested in learning the techniques and science of
macro-scale imaging, including both didactic and hands-on
instruction.
About the Optix� system
Based on time-domain technology, which allows measurement of the
light's time of arrival, the Optix� in vivo optical molecular
imaging device is the most sensitive optical imager commercially
available on the preclinical market, allowing for detection of
lower concentrations of signals deeper inside the body. Unique to
the Optix system is the ability to recover fluorescence lifetime,
which can be used to separate and quantify probe distributions
depending on their respective biochemical environment. Also part of
the Optix product offering is a CT fusion software package allowing
researchers to export the scan obtained using Optix in DICOM
format, and fuse it with microCT for a full 3D anatomical
reference.
About California NanoSystems Institute at UCLA
The California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI) is a research center
at UCLA whose mission is to encourage university collaboration with
industry and to enable the rapid commercialization of discoveries
in nanosystems. CNSI members who are on the faculty at UCLA
represent a multi-disciplinary team of some of the world's
preeminent scientists. The work conducted at the CNSI represents
world-class expertise in five targeted areas of nanosystems-related
research including Renewable Energy; Environmental Nanotechnology
and Nanotoxicology; NanoBiotechnology and Biomaterials;
NanoMechanical and NanoFluidic systems; and NanoElectronics,
Photonics and Architectonics. The CNSI's new building on the campus
of UCLA is home to eight core facilities which will serve both
academic and industry collaborations. For more details, visit the
Institute's web site at www.cnsi.ucla.edu.
About ART
ART Advanced Research Technologies Inc. is a leader in molecular
imaging products for the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries.
ART has developed products in medical imaging, medical diagnostics,
disease research, and drug discovery with the goal of bringing new
and better treatments to patients faster. The Optix� optical
molecular imaging system, designed for monitoring physiological
changes in living systems at the preclinical study phases of new
drugs, is used by industry and academic leaders worldwide. The
SoftScan� optical medical imaging device is designed to improve the
diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. Finally, the Fenestra�
line of molecular imaging contrast products provides image
enhancement for a wide range of preclinical Micro CT applications
allowing scientists to see greater detail in their imaging studies,
with potential extension into other major imaging modalities. ART
is commercializing some of these products in a global strategic
alliance with GE Healthcare, a world leader in mammography and
imaging. ART's shares are listed on the TSX under the ticker symbol
ARA. For more information on ART, visit our website at
www.art.ca.
This press release may contain forward-looking statements
subject to risks and uncertainties that would cause actual events
to differ materially from expectations. These risks and
uncertainties are described in ART's most recent Annual Information
Form and the financial statements for the year ended December 31,
2007, available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com).
Contacts: ART Advanced Research Technologies Inc. Jacques Bedard
Chief Financial Officer jbedard@art.ca ART Advanced Research
Technologies Inc. Dino DiCamillo, Vice President of Global Sales
and Marketing, Preclinical Imaging 514-832-0777 ddicamil@art.ca
www.art.ca
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