DEVICE FOR IN VIVO DELIVERY OF NITRIC OXIDE

描述了一种新的设备，称为Photoliberator， 药理剂的中枢神经系统从“笼” 化合物.这些化合物保持其生物活性， 由适当波长的光能释放出来。因为神经活性 分子的产生与光强度成比例， Photoliberator提供了更好的时间和剂量控制， 比微离子导入和压力注射更有效。它还 能够控制挥发性物质的输送。例如免费 自由基气体一氧化氮（NO）。NO已被牵连在许多重要的 生理作用。包括血压调节和记忆 形成，但直接应用NO在体外和体内 神经元制剂受到其短半衰期（约5秒）的限制。 使用光致解放器，可以施加和激活被关在笼子里的NO 在不同的步骤。其他笼状化合物可以通过以下方式递送和活化： 这个装置，包括笼状谷氨酸和笼状钙， 作为通用神经生理学工具的实用性。三级 实验方法从体外到体内制备， 打算测试一系列更强大的原型 第二阶段 研究工作将在该装置的商业化中达到高潮。 拟议的商业应用：一种经济、快速和定量的 一氧化氮在具有完整 神经元和血管电路将发现一个不断增长的市场， 世界各地的生理学研究者Photoliberator还可以提供 其他笼状化合物，并超过了常规的性能 神经元刺激技术。

A new device is described, called the Photoliberator, that delivers pharmacological agents to the central nervous system from "caged" compounds. These compounds conserve their biological activity until released by light energy of the appropriate wavelength. Because neuroactive molecules are generated in proportion to light intensity, the Photoliberator provides better control of timing and dosage of neurotransmitters than microiontophoresis and pressure injection. It also enables the controlled deliver of volatile species. such as the free radical gas Nitric oxide (NO). NO has been implicated in many important physiological roles. including blood pressure regulation and memory formation, but the direct application of NO to in vitro and in vivo neuronal preparations is limited by its short half life (about 5 sec). Using the Photoliberator, the caged fond of NO can be applied and activated in separate steps. Other caged compounds can be delivered and activated by this device, including caged glutamate and caged Ca--, which enhances its utility as a general purpose neurophysiological tool. A three-stage experimental approach. ranging from ex vitro to in vivo preparations is proposed to test a series of more powerful prototypes. The Phase Il research effort will culminate in the commercialization of this device. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: An economical, fast and quantitative method for delivery of nitric oxide in living animal models with intact neuronal and vascular circuitry will find a growing market with physiological researchers worldwide. The Photoliberator can also deliver other caged compounds, and exceeds the performance of conventional technologies for neuronal stimulation.