November 10, 2004
NanoBiotech News
area -- licensed to Crystalplex. It will have
access to other BioCrystal intellectual property
as well.
Specifically, he continues, "Crystalplex
intends to purchase nanocrystal material from
BioCrystal for use with its bead-based sensor
technology. Our patents in that area complement
its proprietary bead-processing technology. We
anticipate purchasing fabricated fluorescent
beads from Crystalplex at some point, then sell-
ing them under our BioPixels products
umbrella."
The deal makes sense for both parties,
Bergen points out, and could lead to jointly mar-
keted products. Also, he says, "both companies
will benefit as Crystalplex achieves success in its
third-party deliberations. BioCrystal may also
create sublicense opportunities for products
resulting from the affiliation. The bottom line,
he says, is "it's a flexible relationship. We can't
do everything at once, so we must both initially
focus on what we do best."
Seadler echoes the same sentiments. "Test-
ing is only as good as the platform you put it on.
We want to be an active partner for a number of
companies that have strengths in areas we don't
have. In fact, if some sort of multi-company con-
sortium grows out of our collaboration with
BioCrystal, it would be great -- and great for the
industry."
The sky is the limit
"The surface has barely been scratched,"
Bergen enthuses, "especially in the use of nano-
materials for biology. Progress has been slow in
that area. And BioCrystal is not as interested in
becoming a bioreagent company as it is in work-
ing diligently to develop better fluorescence-
based tools for others to use. That's been our
focus to date." But, he adds, "our functionalized
fluorescent nanocrystals are very stable in an
aqueous environment for 12 months or longer. No
similar products on the market can claim that."
Seadler agrees that that the pair will change
the nanobead space for good. "To date," he com-
ments, "most crystals have been a replacement
for fluorescent dyes. We're looking long-term at
strengthening the quality of the nanocrystals
that are available."
Crystalplex was founded by LaunchCyte
LLC and has been funded by private investors
as well as Innovation Works, the Pittsburgh Life
Sciences Greenhouse and the University of Pitts-
burgh Medical Center.
Formed in 1996, BioCrystal has been funded
by Ohio-based private investment sources intent
on keeping a nanobiotech firm operating in the
Midwest.
Editor's Note: Contact Alan Seadler at (412) 826-
3082 and Jeff Bergen at (614) 818-1170, extension 208.
Reprinted with permission from
NanoBiotech News, published by NHI Publications, Atlanta, GA. Copyright © 2004. All
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