SBIR-STTR Award

LiDon Technologies proposes to incorporate a nanosecond phase-frequency modulation fluorescence lifetime measurement technique to a bi-directional water flux measurement system developed by the principals of LiDon; the Trans-membrane Water and Ion Measurement System (TWIMS) (Philis, Wong & Yeates, 1999). The system is based on the measurement of the modulation of the temporal changes in the fluorescence of 8-amino-1,3,6-naphthalene tri-sulfonate (ANTS) in D2O, compared to H2O due to bi-directional transport of D2O and H2O across a membrane partition. ANTS is excited with 397 nm light emitted from a sinusoidally-modulated blue LED at MHz frequencies. The phase as well as the modulation factor of the emitted fluorescence at 514 nm are determined using a dual photomultiplier tube in conjunction with a cross correlation technique. In this Phase I feasibility project, LiDon will incorporate these electro-optical technologies to improve the sensitivity and temporal resolution of the system. In Phase II, the system will be further optimized and automated to enhance the novelty of the TWIMS while reducing its costs of production so that profitable systems can be manufactured to attain market competitiveness. The maintenance of homeostatic water transport across biological membranes is fundamental to life and abnormalities in trans-membrane transport lead to diseases in organs and tissues, including the lungs, intestine, kidneys, eyes, and brain. This system is targeted to a yet untapped market. This market is forecast to undergo substantial growth

Thesaurus Terms:
biological fluid transport, biomedical equipment development, ion transport, measurement, water channel fluorescence, optics, photomultiplier

BioTechPlex proposes to develop a Transmembrane Water and Ion Measurement System (TWIMS) to measure miniscule water fluxes across biological membranes in conjunction with their electro-physiological properties. BioTechPlex has accomplished all the objectives proposed in Phase I. A) Developed a novel light source and associated optics for fluorescence photon detection and analysis. B) Integrated the bench optics into a measurement system, tested the system and demonstrated its markedly increased sensitivity for the measurement of transmembrane water fluxes. In this Phase II project, BioTechPlex will integrate the principle and concepts of the electro-optics developed in this Phase I to build an 8-tissue chamber system. To develop a manufacturability prototype of the TWIMS, we will proceed with the development of further innovative technologies. These include: 1) fluorescence detection technology; 2) prototyping of the chambers and tissue holders to accommodate both native epithelia and confluent tissue cultures; and 3) a virtual instrumentation platform for the measurement of luminal to basolateral and basolateral to luminal waters fluxes, potential difference and short circuit current. This multichamber system will be designed to suit the needs of physiologists and pharmacologists, in academia, government and industry. It will be designed for scientific research experiments as well as for use in the drug discovery industry. BioTechPlex plans to market the TWIMS for scientific investigations and drug discovery in fields including but not limited to, 1) respiratory disease such as chronic bronchitis, asthma bronchiectasis and cystic fibrosis; 2) gastrointestinal disease such as diarrhea, cholera infection and severe dehydration; 3) kidney disease such as renal failure; and 4) eye diseases such as dry eye syndrome.

Thesaurus Terms:
biological fluid transport, biomedical equipment development, electrophysiology, fluorescence, ion transport, measurement, water channel optics, photomultiplier, water flow sheep