MORGANTOWN, W.Va., Aug. 27, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Protea Biosciences Group, Inc. ("Protea") announced today that the George Washington University has been awarded two additional patents for its LAESI technology platform, for which Protea is the exclusive licensee. The first patent is titled "Laser Ablation Electrospray Ionization (LAESI) for Atmospheric Pressure, In Vivo, and Imaging Mass Spectrometry" (U.S. Patent #8,487,244) and the second patent is titled "Three-Dimensional Molecular Imaging By Infrared Laser Ablation Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry" (U.S. Patent # 8,487,246). Both patents were issued on July 16, 2013.
"We are pleased that these two additional patents have been issued," commented Steve Turner, Protea's CEO. "LAESI represents a revolutionary technology to rapidly identify the molecular products of living cells, due to its ability to perform 2 dimensional and 3 dimensional molecular imaging, all without sample preparation or the addition of chemical matrices. Even live cells and bacterial colonies can be analyzed with LAESI. Collectively these capabilities will prove invaluable to pharmaceutical and life science research laboratories worldwide."
LAESI-MS (Laser Ablation Electrospray Ionization-Mass Spectrometry) was invented in the laboratory of Akos Vertes, Ph.D., Professor of Chemistry at the George Washington University and exclusively licensed to Protea. LAESI enables rapidly obtaining mass spectrometry data profiles of biomolecules present in cells. LAESI analysis can be performed on tissue sections identical to those used in traditional histological staining and examination, without the need for sample preparation that can lead to sample loss and contamination. LAESI enables the generation of direct, rapid, and reproducible data, decreasing both the time and cost to obtain mass spectrometric analysis of biological samples.
Protea Biosciences Group, Inc.
Protea is a leader in the field of mass spectrometry molecular imaging - the identification and localization of the molecular products of living cells, that is foundational science for all pharmaceutical, medical, and life science research.
The George Washington University
In the heart of the nation's capital with additional programs in Virginia, the George Washington University was created by an Act of Congress in 1821. Today, GW is the largest institution of higher education in the District of Columbia. The university offers comprehensive programs of undergraduate and graduate liberal arts study, as well as degree programs in medicine, public health, law, engineering, education, business and international affairs. Each year, GW enrolls a diverse population of undergraduate, graduate and professional students from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and more than 130 countries.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain certain statements relating to future results which are forward-looking statements. These statements are not historical facts, but instead represent only the Company's belief regarding future events, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of the Company's control. It is possible that the Company's actual results and financial condition may differ, possibly materially, from the anticipated results and financial condition indicated in these forward-looking statements. Further information concerning the Company and its business, including factors that potentially could materially affect the Company's financial results, are contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date of this press release, and we do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or correct any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that subsequently occur or of which we hereafter become aware.
Protea and LAESI are registered trademarks of Protea Biosciences Group, Inc.
For more Information: Protea Biosciences Group, Inc. 955 Hartman Run Road, Morgantown WV 26507 USA Phone: 304.292.2226 Fax: 304.292.7101
