TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER OPPORTUNITY: Simulated Space Station Environment for Cell Cultures (LAR-TOPS-199)

NASA’s Technology Transfer Program solicits inquiries from companies interested in obtaining license rights to commercialize, manufacture and market the following technology. License rights may be issued on an exclusive or nonexclusive basis and may include specific fields of use. NASA provides no funding in conjunction with these potential licenses.

THE TECHNOLOGY: NASA Langley Research Center has developed a method and apparatus to be used for cell culture that combines the effects of microgravity and low dose radiation. The technology has been developed to simulate the effects of microgravity and chronic radiation exposure to cell culture experiments conducted on the International Space Station (ISS). Recent experiments conducted aboard the ISS have led to the rapid development of vaccine candidates for infectious diseases, including MRSA and salmonella.

This is due to activation of biological pathways and expression of biomarkers indicative of enhanced virulence that are not normally observed in terrestrial environments. The technology integrates a radiation source with a microgravity-simulating rotating-wall vessel for cell cultures to express enhanced virulence or otherwise unexpressed biological pathways that could potentially assist in drug development efforts.

The invention more closely mimics the ISS environment than microgravity bioreactors that are currently commercially available.

To express interest in this opportunity, please submit a license application through NASA’s Automated Technology Licensing Application System (ATLAS) by visiting https://technology.nasa.gov/patent/LAR-TOPS-199 If you have any questions, please e-mail NASA’s Technology Transfer Program at Agency-Patent-Licensing@mail.nasa.gov with the title of this Technology Transfer Opportunity as listed in this SAM.gov notice and your preferred contact information.

For more information about licensing other NASA-developed technologies, please visit the NASA Technology Transfer Portal at https://technology.nasa.gov/ These responses are provided to members of NASA’s Technology Transfer Program for the purpose of promoting public awareness of NASA-developed technology products, and conducting preliminary market research to determine public interest in and potential for future licensing opportunities. No follow-on procurement is expected to result from responses to this Notice.