Brand Name or Equal High-throughput, high-sensitivity, spectral identification of extracellular vesicle subsets.

Title: Brand Name or Equal High-throughput, high-sensitivity, spectral identification of extracellular vesicle subsets.
Document Type: Combined Synopsis/Solicitation Notice
Solicitation Number: 75N91019Q00159
Proposed Posted Date: 08/30/2019
Proposed Response Date: 09/06/2019 12:00 PM ET
Classification Code: 66 - Instruments and laboratory equipment
NAICS Code: 334516 - Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing
Business Size Standard: 1000 Employees
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This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items, prepared in accordance with format in FAR 12.6 as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation and a separate written solicitation will not be issued. This solicitation: No. 75N91019Q00159 includes all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through FAR FAC 2019-03 (July 2019) simplified procedures for commercial items. .

The North American Industry Classification System code is 334516 and the business size standard is 1000 employees.

Only one award will be made as a result of this solicitation. This will be awarded as a firm fixed price purchase order.

SCOPE

The intent of this purchase is to acquire a spectral flow cytometer, for the purpose of obtaining high resolution data with high sensitivity for the analysis of submicron extracellular vesicles (EVs) with spectral flow cytometric methods. This instrument will be an integral component of the EV analysis pipeline and characterization of nanomaterials that is essential for the research that is being conducted in the Translational Nanobiology Section of the Laboratory of Pathology, as part of the wider mission to generate and characterize new tools for cancer diagnosis and treatment in the intramural research program of the Center for Cancer Research at NCI.

Project Background

After extensive research focused on developing and refining nanoscale flow cytometry technologies, we have identified methods and instruments that can be utilized in an integrated EV analysis pipeline to characterize the repertoires and molecular attributes of different types of EVs. Specialized instruments are required for one the most technically challenging aspects of this work, which is conducting robust, highly sensitive, highly scalable, and highly adaptable multiprametric EV and nanomaterial characterization. The design of the Cytek Aurora utilizes a proprietary spectral platform and configuration, along with several other features, including high throughput sample loading, high sensitivity detector arrays, and option for additional laser power upgrades, that combined together provide this set features not available from other companies:
• spectral data
• high levels of multiprametric (>5 channel) sensitivity
• high resolution (to resolve dim EVs or nanomaterials)
• experimental dexterity.
This combination of features is essential for ongoing research and development in the Translational Nanobiology Section.

Project description

The purpose for this instrument is to provide maximal sensitivity and versatility for broad, multi-dimensional label-based testing of EV repertoires. We have developed custom multiplex bead sets and software for phenotyping EV repertoires from human biofluids (NCI U.S. Patent Application No. 62/650,162 filed March 29, 2018), with which we have demonstrated ability to phenotype hundreds of EV marker combinations.

However, most flow cytometers require more than 100-1000 fluorophores for detection of a positive signal, which causes us to "miss" many marker-positive events that have fewer than 100-3000 fluorophores. In our testing, the Aurora is one of the most sensitive instruments commercially available that can be used for the detection of multiple fluorophores with a sensitivity level under 25 to 30 fluorophores. In other words, the Aurora is between 4 and 100 times more sensitive than most "high"-powered flow cytometers. Only the nanoFCM is capable of higher sensitivity, but the nanoFCM specializes in single EV, single molecule sensitivity, for only one laser detection path, and the nanoFCM is not capable of 4-laser multiparametric ultra-sensitivity across multiple fluorophores in the same way that the Aurora is. The nanoFCM is also not compatible with high-throughput sample analysis and not capable of multiparametric analysis of multi-micron beads in the manner that the Aurora is.

Moreover, the Aurora is capable of detecting a large number of different labels due to the inherent superiority of spectral rather than selective wavelength event analysis. This means that in our multiplex assays, we will be able to use the Aurora to survey thousands of EV marker combinations, in instances when conventional non-spectral 4-laser flow cytometers could only interrogate hundreds of EV marker combinations.

High throughput is essential because of the types of the translational assays that we are performing, which often require many hundreds of tubes be analyzed in each experiment. This instrument will be configured with a plate loader to allow more efficient sample processing.

TYPE OF ORDER

This is a Firm Fixed-Price Purchase Order.

SPECIAL ORDER REQUIREMENTS

The instrument must be capable of high resolution detection of fluorophores along with spectral fluorescence studies. We request that the instrument may have the option for addition of a LED pulser (for calibration purporses) at a future date.

PRODUCT FEATURES/SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS

The following product features/characteristics are required for this requirement:

• Spectral fluorophore detection allowing high-parameter cytometry
• High-throughput - 96-well plate reader
• High-sensivitiy (detection.