Research Fundings from Governments Worldwide Have Played an Instrumental Role In Driving The Growth Of The Single Cell Sequencing Market

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Single CellSequencing is a next-generation sequencing (NGS) technique primarily used to analyze the variations in protein and genetic information between cells to extract genetic data on microorganisms, which are otherwise challenging to cultivate at the individual cell level and to comprehend their particular roles in the micro-environment better. Research studies in the field of single cell sequencing focus on a wide array of applications right from immunotherapy, neurobiology, and cancer treatment to, in the latest feat, COVID-19.

A group of MIT researchers recently found a way to recover information through single cell sequencing. The team used a modified version of the Seq-Well technique, which gave them the capacity to extract ten times more information from each cell in a given sample. The increased information extraction resulting from the novel approach would help researchers gain more knowledge about the gene expression in each cell and help them find subtle yet critical variations between healthy cells and dysfunctional cells.

The leading companies in the industry include Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., 10x Genomics Inc., Becton, Dickinson & Company, Illumina, Bio-Rad, Fludigim, BGI, F Hoffman-La Roche Ltd., Qiagen, and Oxford Nanopore Technologies. 10x Genomics recently announced the acquisition of the Boston-based ReadCoor, Inc.. The company’s second in situ sequencing takeover was valued at USD 350 million in cash and stock consideration. It had previously announced the acquisition of Cartana, the  Stockholm-based developer of in situ RNA analysis technology, in August. 

In situ methods allow researchers to measure a colossal number of molecules directly through the precise location of the molecule at sub-cellular resolution. The newly-acquired capabilities might complement 10x Genomics Chromium Single Cell and Visium Spatial platforms and help the company establish the foundation for its third tech platform, widening its consumer base and facilitating the new translational as well as clinical applications.

The most relevant development recently pertains to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The changes in the SARS-CoV-2 virus genome in the transmission of the infection have remained unclear. A team of University of Chicago researchers has used a new approach, a technique named FD-seq, which is a high-throughput single cellsequencing approach to sequence single cells applicable for paraformaldehyde (PFA) treatment. 

The team examined the immune response of human lung cells infected by coronavirus OC43, a virus belonging to the same family as SARS-CoV-2, which causes the common cold, which has been used successfully in drug discovery to prevent the replication of SARS-CoV-2 in vitro. Mining this ‘biological bitcoin’ could have inestimable benefits, and the worth of genetic information will continue to be a major driver for the growth of the single cell sequencing market.  However, the costs of it might also be similarly prohibitive for most consumers, impeding its accessibility and, subsequently, its growth.

Increasing Investment in the Study of Patterned or Organized Molecular Films to Propel Nanofilms Industry Growth

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Nanofilms can be described as thin layers of material, with thickness ranging between a fraction of a nanometer and several micrometers. These films are an atomic-thick frontier with their surroundings, where most of the physicochemical processes take place. The largest class of these nanofilms comprise of a stack of multiple layers that have opposite charge, wherein the states’ density is restricted to a 2D arrangement, and quantum coupling among multiple layers moderate the properties of the assembled multilayer. The most prominent method to deposit functional thin films is the layer-on-layer deposition. Several approaches to deposit single layers include spin coating, immersion, electromagnetic deposition, spraying, and fluidic assembly.

Nanofilms Market

The market growth is being propelled by the increasing investment in the study of patterned or organized molecular films in nanostructures by looking at the assembly of quantum dots measured in nanometers. There are a plethora of new projects exploring the different applications of this technology for different purposes by both academia as well as companies, which would widen the application scope of nanofilms further, simultaneously boosting market growth and expansion. For instance, a group of material scientists from the National University of Science and Technology MISiS has used boron nitride to create antibacterial nano-coatings that work efficiently against microbial pathogens. They might become a safe alternative to antibiotics typically used in implantology as they have no side effects. Researchers from the University of Houston have recently introduced a medical robotic hand made with stretchable semiconducting nanofilms that can allow medical professionals to diagnose and treat patients remotely, with optimal accuracy and a diminished margin of human error. Hybrid nanofilms might be a crucial addition as topical anesthetics to dentistry procedures to make them pain-free.

Some of the leading players in the industry are Nanofilm, Nano Therapeutics Pvt. Ltd., Cosmo Films Limited, Nano Foam Technology Private Limited, Cosmo Films Ltd Smart Source Technologies, Advanced Thin Film, MetaTechnica, NanoGram Corporation, Maxtek Technology, MetaTechnica, and Nano Labs. In recent years, the nanofilms market has witnessed established companies investing in keeping up with the evolution in the technology and newer players emerging with innovative products that broaden the scope of its applications. 

In April, earlier this year, Peak Nanosystems LLC, a Coppell-based start-up working with nanotech, closed its Series C round with funds amounting to USD 25 Million from Connecticut-based Squadron Capital. The company planned to allocate the funds towards acquiring PolymerPlus, an Ohio-based Multilayered Polymer Products & Research Company, and expanding its own in-house optical product development. PolymerPlus has developed technology for film capacitors and optics, which can be launched next year. By acquiring the company, Peak Nanosystems acquired the rights to this particular tech and the IP on board nanolayered film that has been fabricated at the Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.