# Bio CaRGOS: Capture and release gels for optimized storage of Cancer Biospecimens

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE · 2020 · $549,375

## Abstract

Biomarkers play a central role in the detection, diagnosis, management and monitoring of patients
with cancer. Factors such as analytical sensitivity and reproducibility are critical to the clinical
utility of plasma based biomarkers in the setting of longitudinal surveillance and early detection of
disease and or recurrence. Currently, the state of preservation of biospecimens is accomplished
primarily using sub freezer techniques and it is cost prohibitive and certainly not practical in most
scenarios. There is clearly a dearth of techniques that can preserve the biospecimens at room
temperature for long periods of time. Therefore, there is a critical unmet clinical need for storing
a plethora of biospecimens acquired routinely.
 Here, we propose to demonstrate stability and integrity of Pancreatic Cancer Specific
biomarkers (CA-A19, miRNA21, and ctDNA) in buffers as well as plasma for extended periods of
time at room temperature. There are several hurdles that must be overcome to realize the
stabilization of biomarkers in plasma directly, due to its inherent complex nature. The proposed
technology is based upon our innovation in developing CaRGOS: Capture and Release Gels for
Optimized storage of Biospecimens. The technical impact of the proposed methodology is
achievement of instantaneous one-step aqueous biospecimen preservative method for cancer
research and clinical samples of interest. The proposed technology is extremely simple, user
friendly, eliminates several complex processes, and more importantly requires no substantial
equipment. The key scientific impact includes our fundamental insight into the interactions of the
biomarkers and other proteins/solute with silica precursors. Based on this fundamental principle,
the methodology can be easily expanded to other research areas including clinical samples,
antigens, bio-pharmaceuticals, drugs, viruses and cell lines. If successful, the innovative
proposed research will result in a paradigm shift in storage and preservation of Cancer
Biospecimens in aqueous formulations that current techniques are unable to achieve.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10025904
- **Project number:** 1R21CA251042-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE
- **Principal Investigator:** Gautam Gupta
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $549,375
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-08-01 → 2024-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10025904

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10025904, Bio CaRGOS: Capture and release gels for optimized storage of Cancer Biospecimens (1R21CA251042-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10025904. Licensed CC0.

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