MASCTM Technology

Brute force microwave heating is commonly used to accelerate the synthesis of stable chemicals. Unfortunately, high-power microwaves are not useful for accelerating delicate biochemical reactions involving heat–sensitive natural molecules such as proteins and DNA. The invention of Microwave-Accelerated Surface Chemistry (MASC^TM) is a breakthrough in microwave chemistry that for the first time allows acceleration of biochemical reactions without harming the relatively fragile biomolecules.

MASCTM can streamline many applications where biomolecules are analyzed, including; pharmaceutical discovery and development, medical diagnostics, veterinary diagnostics, food testing (such as routine testing of meat, poultry, and vegetables), water testing, agricultural testing (such as for contaminant genetically modified plants on farms), and bio/chemical warfare agent testing.

How Does MASCTM Work?

With MASC^TM, delicate biological reactions are accelerated using a patented combination of low power microwaves and special microwave-absorbing materials.

In MASC^TM, microwaves are targeted to the solid surfaces where bioanalytical reactions occur. MASC^TM–based tests typically involve first attaching biomolecules (red crescents, below) to the special microwave-absorbing surfaces (white/gold) of disposable devices. By bathing the solid surfaces in gentle microwaves (blue arrows), the surfaces quickly warm and biochemical reactions (yellow balls attaching to red crescents) are greatly accelerated.

MASC^TM Disposable Devices: Beyond Stealth

Some of Mirari's early R&D was borrowed from Stealth aircraft technology. Stealth military aircraft (the F–117 Nighthawk fighter and B–2 Spirit bomber are shown above) are virtually invisible to radar (radar and microwaves are both radiofrequency (RF) waves). Radar detects conventional aircraft by reflecting radar waves off the metal fuselage and wings back to the ground where it is detected. In contrast, part of Stealth radar invisibility comes from the aircrafts' black skin which absorbs radar waves and converts them into heat rather than reflecting them back to the ground where they can be detected. As can be seen in the photos below, some of Mirari's microwave-absorbing coatings are also black as similar RF-absorbing carbon-based materials were used.

Disposable devices called microchips (chips, microarray slides, protein arrays, DNA arrays) and microwell plates (microtiter plates, plates) are today's gold standards for biomolecular testing. Shown below are typical MASC^TM microwell plates and microchips. In addition to the black opaque coating, we have developed advanced, nanometer-thin, inexpensive, easily manufactured, transparent coatings. Because we can undercoat microchips and microplates that are already on the market, MASC^TM can immediately "supercharge" thousands of existing tests that are already being sold by many vendors throughout the world.

What Can MASCTM Do?

Like a "Swiss Army^TM Knife", MASCTM is a multi-faceted technology that can perform many tasks. MASC^TM can be used preparatively, analytically, and to reduce medical waste after testing. Depending on the testing requirements, one or all of these features can be incorporated.

• Rapid Test Preparation
  Biological testing almost always involves a specific recognition event such as an antibody–antigen reaction (in immunoassays) or specific DNA strand hybridization (in DNA probe assays). These so-called "binding" events are usually the bottleneck in terms of the total test time. Using mild microwaves and moderately low temperatures, MASCTM can be used to dramatically accelerate test preparation times. For example, the binding events in an immunoassay may normally take 5 hours or longer and DNA hybridization can take up to 16 hours. With MASC^TM, these times can be reduced by a factor of ten or more. As the technology develops, we believe that the time reduction will become even greater. Shown below are the results of immunoassays with and without MASC^TM.


Immunoassay results on a microchip with (left) and without (right) MASC^TM. Spots represent test results of a cancer-related protein. Antibody-antigen binding was for 10 minutes (MASC^TM) or 120 minutes (no MASC^TM). Microwave treatment of a non-MASC^TM chip gives results similar to the panel on the right (no MASC^TM).

• Rapid Test Detection
  One form of MASC^TM called Microwave Chemiluminescence (MCL) can be used to sensitively and rapidly detect molecules. In MCL, molecules are present on microchips or microwell plates that have the ability to emit light only when triggered by microwaves. Advantages of MCL over normal chemiluminescence detection include low background, instantaneous strong light emission, and superior user control and convenience. MCL is an extremely sensitive way of detecting traces of biomolecules in both immunoassays and DNA probe assays. Shown below is a comparison between cancer-associated proteins measured by MCL (left) and normal chemiluminescence (right).


MCL and conventional chemiluminescence on MASC^TM microchips. Images of light emission from two chips are shown at the top and a scanned digitalized image is shown at the bottom. In both cases, eight tests for a cancer-related protein were performed.

• Rapid Post-Test Sample Decontamination
  Microchips and microwell plates used in biomedical analyses often contain biohazardous materials – either toxins or pathogens. An added convenience of MASCTM is that the sample can be microwave heat treated after analysis in the instrument, thus rendering the sample harmless in many cases. In this application, stronger microwaves are used than in test preparation or analysis described above.
• Emerging Applications
  MASC^TM is a dynamic technology. Along with our partners, we are continually expanding and improving MASC^TM. Please check our website often for exciting innovations and advances.

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