Biological Science
Mission
The missions of the Biological Sciences group are: 1) to develop instrumentation, consumables and other tools to accelerate drug discovery research in small animal models; and 2) to develop efficient methods and strains for direct fermentation of biomass to biofuels. The biological sciences group also provides support within PSI in a broad range of areas including cancer diagnostics, antimicrobial development, fuel cell development, immunoassay development for diagnostic and sensor applications, and tissue engineering.
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| Bottom and SideView (b) images of a 7 dpf zebrafish larva showing fluorescence staining. Fluorescence of the gall bladder and intestine is clearly visualized in the SideView image | |
Core Competencies
Core competencies include molecular and cellular biology, small animal model development, drug discovery and diagnostics assay design, and nucleic acid based therapeutic and diagnostic technologies. The Biological Sciences Group personnel skills include microbiology, biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, and biochemical and whole organism assay design.
Recent Activities Using Small Animal Models
PSI is developing tools to automate research, drug discovery and toxicology assays using zebrafish embryos and larvae. PSI has developed the SideView™ microplate, a 96-well plate that features rectangular wells that align samples with right angle prisms. This novel microplate enables collection of clear images of the sides of zebrafish larvae, and other organisms, in microwells using an inverted microscope.
This technology along with companion technologies that enhance the use of the microwells is expected to accelerate vertebrate developmental biology research, and aid in drug discovery and toxicology testing. These microplates have been developed into a commercial product that is available aat (SideView Microplate). As part of those efforts, PSI has developed algorithms to identify fluorescently labeled blood vessels in zebrafish and assess their integrity. These efforts have been supported both internally and through the NIH.
A second, novel tool has been developed to accelerate discovery of new pharmaceuticals that affect cardiac output and also provides a moderate-throughput, early stage cardiac toxicology platform. That device uses Spectral Domain-Optical Doppler Tomography (SDOCT) to generate 2-D and 3-D structural videos and extract blood velocity information.
The atrium and ventricle are clearly visualized in structural videos thus enabling identification of heart rhythm defects. Blood velocity and cross-sectional area are measured at the aorta to provide robust cardiac output measurements.
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Biofuels Development.
PSI is developing methods and strains that will enable consolidated bioprocessing in which biomass is directly converted to fuel or fuel precursors. PSI is developing two key pieces of intellectual property in support of this thrust area under internal R&D funding. In addition, a Navy-sponsored program to develop strains for direct conversion of biomass to pinene precursors for high-density, liquid tactical fuels. PSI envisions significant growth in this area.
Commercial Products Include:
SideView™ LED Illuminator
Cardiac Toxicology Assay Device (custom product)
Current Research Thrusts Include:
- Automated Screening System for Modifiers of Cardiac Output in Zebrafish
- Sponsor: NIH/NHLBI
- Objectives: Develop a fully automated device that measures cardiac output in zebrafish for discovery of new pharmaceuticals and for assay of cardiac toxicity.
- Moderate-Throughput, Non-Invasive Toxicological Assays in Brachydanio rerio
- Sponsor: NIH/NEIHS
- Objectives: Develop instrumentation and methods for low-cost, non-invasive toxicological assays using zebrafish as a model.
- Direct Fermentation of Biomass to Fuels
- Sponsor: DoD/Navy, and Internal R&D
- Objectives: Develop a true consolidated bioprocess for biofuels production.
Area Leadership
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Dr. Anthony Ferrante |
Since receiving his Ph.D. in 1992 Dr. Ferrante has developed a broad scientific background that spans bacterial physiology and molecular genetics, mammalian virology (HIV), and small animal model, biochemical assay development and instrumentation development. Since joining PSI in 2003 Dr. Ferrante has focused on development of imaging technologies for biomedical and bioresearch applications. In recent years Dr. Ferrante has conceived two key pieces of intellectual property that will enable direct fermentation of biomass to fuels and fuel precursors. Dr. Ferrante was the Principal Investigator on a confocal imaging program funded by NASA and on four programs to develop high-speed imaging technologies for use with zebrafish larvae and other small animal models. The technology developed during one of those programs has been commercialized. Dr. Ferrante currently serves as the Biological Sciences Group Leader..
Contact
Anthony A. Ferrante
Physical Sciences Inc.
20 New England Business Center
Andover, MA 01810-1077
Telephone: (978) 689-0003
Fax: (978) 689-3232
ferrante@psicorp.com