In December 2023, Marc Zuiddam presented Eugen Ostrofet, Founder of 1NA, with a NanoLabNL voucher. This voucher enables 1NA to redeem hours in the cleanrooms of the KAVLI NanoLab, the Else Kooi Laboratory, and the TNO Nanolab, all located in Delft, for comprehensive training, expert guidance, and the use of cutting-edge equipment.
Eugen Ostrofet has submitted a voucher request for the ‘DNA Curtains Device’ project. The goal of this project is to fabricate gold structures ranging from 200 to 800 nm on a glass slide. The glass slides, featuring nanostructures, are integrated within microfluidic flow cells, which allow researchers to create arrays containing hundreds of stretched individual DNA molecules. This capability facilitates high-throughput imaging of individual protein-DNA interactions at the single-molecule level. It provides a powerful tool for exploring the critical aspects of genome processing, such as chromosome organization, homologous recombination, or DNA target localization by proteins.
“The voucher has granted us access to a world-class facility, state-of-the-art equipment, and unique expertise, making our project feasible in the first place. As an early-stage startup, we appreciated that the application and evaluation processes were straightforward and quick, with no administrative burden afterwards. Additionally, the intake organisation, the quality of training, and the level of support exceeded our expectations, contributing significantly to the rapid development of the prototype.”
About 1NA
“In the long term, 1NA aims to develop a single-molecule platform for high-throughput antiviral drug screening based on DNA curtains technology. Single-molecule methods have been discussed in the context of drug development for the past twenty years. However, the primary bottlenecks encountered include low throughput and a very high entry barrier. We envision that the intrinsic multiplexing ability of DNA curtains, combined with automation and AI-assisted data selection, will address both issues, unlocking the full potential of single-molecule techniques for drug development.
For now, the central element of the instrument – the microfluidic chip with nanostructures – can be used independently in academic research to address a broad range of scientific questions in the field of protein-DNA interactions. For more information, please visit 1na.nl.”
