Biospecimen storage has evolved greatly in terms of complexity and demand in the last years. The number of samples stored by research laboratories, biobanks and biorepository facilities grow dramatically driven by emerging fields such as genomics and proteomics.
Use of ultra-low temperatures freezers (-80ºC) for DNA, RNA and plasma storage, and liquid nitrogen tanks (-180ºC) for storing viable cells require continuous energy or liquid nitrogen supply to keep these samples stored, resulting in a significant environmental and monetary cost source on a long term nowadays. To this, we shall add the costs of equipment maintenance, replacement, and working backup systems to minimize potential losses. Moreover, freezers release enormous amounts of heat which need to be compensated with air conditioning continuously working in the freezer rooms, adding to the overall energetic cost of sample storage. In addition, freezers are very inefficient in terms of space; the thick walls and the mechanical parts, which account for a significant part of the volume occupied by these devices, and the need for leaving free space between units result in a low effective space used to sample store, resulting in the need for very large storage rooms, not always available and costly to build.
300K is a high-tech start-up devoted to developing efficient solutions for storage of biospecimens, based on a patented solution using lyophilization. 300K arose with the aim of commercializing the technology developed within the Spanish DNA National Bank (DNANB), which comes from the uncovered necessities and shortcomings stated above. Users which are currently using low and ultra-low technologies for biospecimens conservation are demanding sustainable and economic alternative solutions and 300K fills this gap.
The overall objective of the Biotem project (SME Instrument Phase I) is to obtain relevant information regarding user requirements, market acceptance, marketing strategy, identification of supply chain partners for implementation and scale-up, and design study.
The information collected during the Biotem project has been analysed and incorporated in an updated business plan. The conclusion of the action has been that the project shall continue once the feasibility and commercial success have been confirmed. In fact, some relevant figures such as Internal Return Investment and personnel recruited have grown when compared with our initial business plan.
