Nature Technology Corporation, a discovery-based bioengineering technology company focused on research and development, has added yet another piece to this year’s list of published scientific articles. The journal Biotechnology and Bioengineering recently published NTC’s piece, “Plasmid DNA Production Combining Antibiotic-Free Selection, Inducible High Yield Fermentation, and Novel Autolytic Purification,” bringing the total to six published works in 2009.
NTC founder Clague Hodgson says the industry recognition gained from publishing is well worth the long hours invested.
“It gives the company scientific credibility (and advertising) to publish in leading, peer-reviewed journals,” he said. Publishing also allows other scientists access to the technology developed by NTC, an important piece for a technology company that commits significant amounts of time and energy to the research.
This most recent publication is the result of more than four years of work, Hodgson said. The focus of all this has been a “simplified method for producing large quantities of gene-based drugs.” The work of NTC could allow companies to produce much larger quantities of biologics used for gene therapy, protein therapy and DNA vaccines by allowing scientists to selectively harvest only the needed components of a cell, rather than having to completely disrupt cells.
Hodgson's wife, Kristi, designed the image selected for the cover of the journal, depicting the process of "leaking" key components of a cell featured in the article.
Five NTC scientists contributed to the work, which is also the subject of U.S. and International patent applications. Filing for a patent is also a lengthy process: it has been 31 months since NTC filed for this patent, and Hodgson expects the process to continue for a couple more years. NTC currently has six issued patents and 11 pending. Patents allow NTC to further their research and lead to new DNA vaccines.
Nature Technology has been located at the Tech Park since 1998.