1NA provides DNA Curtains flow cells, a microfluidic platform that aligns and images hundreds of DNA molecules simultaneously on standard TIRF microscopes. By enabling direct, real‑time visualization of DNA‑protein interactions with minimal reagent use, the system delivers bulk‑level statistical robustness from a single experiment, facilitating studies such as DNA damage‑repair dynamics.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Single-molecule assays traditionally observe one DNA molecule at a time, requiring extensive time and large reagent volumes to achieve statistically meaningful data. This low throughput and high sample consumption limit the accessibility of detailed DNA‑protein interaction studies to specialized labs.
Solution
1NA’s DNA Curtains Flow Cell enables parallel observation of hundreds of individual DNA molecules on a standard objective‑type TIRF microscope. Nanofabricated v‑shaped or zigzag barriers on a glass coverslip capture and align DNA tethered to a supported lipid bilayer, forming an ordered “curtain” that can be imaged in real time. The microfluidic design provides six independent channels with a dead volume of only 2 µL, so typical experiments use ~10 µL of nanomolar‑concentration sample. Direct fluorescence imaging of protein binding, diffusion, and activity yields intuitive kymographs and quantitative metrics without indirect probing or complex data deconvolution, delivering bulk‑level statistical robustness from a single assay.
Target Audience
Primary customers are academic and industry researchers in molecular biology, biochemistry, and biophysics who study DNA‑protein interactions such as repair, replication, transcription, motor protein dynamics, and CRISPR mechanisms, and who have access to a TIRF microscope.
Features
- Electron‑beam lithography creates sub‑micron v‑shaped or continuous zigzag barriers that space DNA molecules for clear, automated analysis
- Supported lipid bilayer passivation minimizes non‑specific protein adsorption while allowing biotin–streptavidin DNA tethering
- Six independent PDMS microfluidic channels (0.5 µL per channel, 2 µL dead volume) reduce reagent consumption and enable parallel experiments
- Compatible with any objective‑type TIRF microscope and standard syringe‑pump setups (withdraw mode, ~1 µL/min flow)
- Handles DNA lengths of 20–50 kbp in single‑ or double‑tether configurations for diverse assay designs
- Generates real‑time kymographs and automated extraction of diffusion coefficients, dwell times, velocities, and processivity for hundreds of molecules simultaneously
- Available in gold or titanium barrier materials with customizable geometry to match specific experimental needs