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Artificial cell membranes marketed that can speed up drug discovery

Date:
January 20, 2014
Source:
The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)
Summary:
Scientists in Singapore will market novel plastic cell membranes to be used as low-cost, easily maintained drug targets that may help shorten the drug discovery process by weeks or months and cut cost by two-thirds.
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Artificial cell membranes (ACMs) are customised synthetic cell membranes that mimic live, targeted membrane proteins. The new technology allows the production of membrane proteins without the need for the specially controlled environments, conditions and training that is required in current live cell culture laboratories. ACM Biolabs' products, which can be tailor-made to a pharmaceutical company's specific drug testing requirements, are produced rapidly and are stable over a long period, leading to significantly reduced costs and streamlining of the currently tedious and cumbersome drug discovery process. The patented artificial cell membrane technology was first developed at A*STAR's IMRE in 2009 by integrating biology with innovative materials science know-how and is now licensed to ACM Biolabs.

Cells communicate with each other and exchange vital molecules through their 'skin' or membranes, facilitated by specific proteins, or membrane proteins. Disruption of the communication pattern can lead to diseases such as cancer, diabetes, obesity, and Parkinson's Disease. Understanding the working of membrane proteins is critical in creating medicines to combat diseases. ACM Biolabs has adapted natural cellular processes to invent a simple yet functional system, where synthetic materials are engineered to host membrane proteins. These include some membrane proteins that cannot currently be produced in a stable form using today's cell-based technology, i.e. the so-called 'hard targets'.

"Our proprietary artificial cell membrane technology is a unique combination of engineered polymer materials and biology that gives pharmaceutical companies a faster, cheaper alternative to current drug discovery methods," said Dr Madhavan Nallani, a former IMRE scientist who is the founder and now the Director of ACM Biolabs, which produces these patented artificial cell membranes with customized membrane proteins.

"Our aim is to lower the entry barrier for more companies and labs to screen novel drugs, or test existing drugs on novel targets," added Dr Nallani. "ACM Biolabs believes that our product can reduce the risk from some of the more daunting phases in the drug discovery process and allows the creation of a new generation of innovative drugs."

"The commercialization of this technology is an excellent example of A*STAR's plan to push lab-based research into the marketplace," said Prof Andy Hor, Executive Director of IMRE. "The success of this spin-off is also part of our efforts to create a generation of scientist-entrepreneurs that can help lead Singapore's charge in a future knowledge-based economy."


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Materials provided by The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


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The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). "Artificial cell membranes marketed that can speed up drug discovery." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 20 January 2014. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/01/140120114741.htm>.
The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). (2014, January 20). Artificial cell membranes marketed that can speed up drug discovery. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 19, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/01/140120114741.htm
The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). "Artificial cell membranes marketed that can speed up drug discovery." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/01/140120114741.htm (accessed March 19, 2024).

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