SBIR-STTR Award

This SBIR Phase I Proposal aims to develop a detection method for enabling sensitive and specific measurement of oxytocin, particularly to discriminate between the 9- and 12- amino acid versions. It aims to demonstrate the feasibility of a novel hybrid molecular imprinting device that can accomplish the overall goals of the program. The technical approach will use the knowledge that the peptide conformations and charges can be tuned by experimental conditions such as pH and ion concentration as well as by the high affinity and specificity of molecular interactions. It will also use ac impedance technology and surface imprinting technique to achieve high sensitivity. Phase I results are expected to demonstrate a capability of distinguishing the 9- and 12-amino acid versions of oxytocin in Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS) at less than 0.25 pg/ml level.

In this Phase II program Polestar Technologies Inc. will fabricate a prototype system based on the principles demonstrated in Phase I and demonstrate its capability for specific and sensitive detection of both the 9-aminoacid and the 12-aminoacid forms of Oxytocin. During Year 1 of our Phase II program, a first generation prototype will be fabricated and optimized for all the three steps involved. We will also assess the sensitivity for detection using synthetically prepared oxytocin solutions for concentrations ranging from 2 ? 200 pg/mL concentrations. During Year 2, Polestar will fabricate and test a beta prototype and demonstrate its capability of measuring both forms of Oxytocin levels in both blood samples and saliva samples. Finally, in the Option period of the program, detailed clinical studies will be conducted in collaboration with Professor Karen Bales of the University of California at Davis (UC Davis). These studies will include 30 young adults which will be subjected to a series of standard tasks to induce stress. The blood and saliva samples from these subjects will be collected before and after the stress. The oxytocin levels in these samples will be measured and compared with the oxytocin levels of the control (before stress) samples.