 Karol Gryczynski, PhD, (left) and Ignacy Gryczynski, PhD. |
$2.27 million Emerging Technology Fund grant will establish a new Center for Commercialization of Fluorescence Technology on campus
Fluorescence technology has a vast array of potential life-saving and life-enhancing applications, from monitoring minute changes in human cells – which can lead to earlier diagnosis of disease – to detecting biohazardous materials. The Center will be led by the international research team of Karol Gryczynski, PhD; Ignacy Gryczynski, PhD; Evgenia Matveeva, PhD.; and Julian Borejdo, PhD. These notable biophysicists were recruited specifically for this project.
Major technology advances have occurred in the life sciences over the past 10 years, and one of the fastest growing areas is fluorescence-based detection and fluorescence imaging. Fluorescence spectroscopy uses a beam of light to excite the electrons in molecules, causing them to emit light at a lower energy level, which is then measured and analyzed.
Commercial enterprises are interested in using this groundbreaking technology to develop and market advanced optical sensors, enhanced security systems, and improved methods of biomedical diagnosis and tissue imaging.
The Gryczynskis, who are brothers, say they are close to developing technology that would allow tiny probes injected into red blood cells to be monitored through the use of fluorescence. This could be used as a non-invasive tool to measure glucose levels in diabetics. The Gryczynskis are also working to develop monitors for heart disease and monitors for the earlier detection of prostate and breast cancer. Fluorescence is already used to monitor oxygen levels in the body.