One of the early-stage companies in the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences BioVentures center is the recipient of Small Business Innovation Research Grant from the Department of Energy, the center announced recently.
Mesolight LLC, which was started by Yunjun Wang and is housed in the BioVentures Biotechnology Center, is the principal site for the research and development program and will use its $750,000 in funding to collaborate with Oak Ridge National Labs and the University of Florida over the next two years.
Mesolight focuses a significant part of its research and development on nanoparticles, which allow the detection of radiation with very high efficiency for improved radiological imaging applications including Positron Emission Tomography.
The SBIR grant is significant in that it is a Phase II award, meaning that the earlier work that was funded by a Phase I award was successfully completed.
In the Phase I program, Mesolight has developed unique scintillating nanocrystals, which are embedded in a supporting polymer composite. These are unique in being low-cost, yet very efficient, nanomaterials for the detection of radiation.
The Phase II program will support the development of nanoparticles with enhanced reporting properties for medical and non-medical – including national defense – uses. The low-cost nanocomposite scintillators will be used in medical imaging, materials analysis and X-ray instrumentation. Also, this work will allow the development of very large radiation detectors for active interrogation of sea and land containers in the transportation industry.
Mike Douglas, director of BioVentures, said that the nanocomposite scintillators being developed in this SBIR project will likely open up new product forms and market opportunities that we do not realize. Additionally, working with faculty at UAMS provides opportunities to test and discuss different medical applications and collaborative opportunities, he said.
In addition, Mesolight recently became a client of Innovate Arkansas, a program of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission that is operated by Winrock International and provides free services to help entrepreneurs get their technologies to market. Arkansas BioVentures is one of the university research programs that work in collaboration with IA.
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