Neural probe for high spatial and temporal resolution detection of cocaine and GA

描述（由申请人提供）：本申请的具体目的是测试开发一种持久的、可植入的探针的可行性，用于快速测量大脑中的多种神经化学物质。目前，神经科学研究仅限于三种测量体内神经化学物质浓度的技术；微透析可以在相对较长的时间内（5-20分钟）获得平均浓度，基于酶的生物传感器可以在相对较大的空间区域内每秒检测一种神经化学物质（500 μ m长度的电极），碳纤维微电极可以通过快速扫描循环伏安法（FSCV）检测多巴胺。需要一种新的工具来快速检测细胞水平上具有空间分辨率的多种神经化学物质的浓度。这样的工具将允许神经科学研究人员提出关于脑生理学、疾病状态和行为（如药物消耗）背后机制的新问题。提出的神经探针通过每4秒以50米的空间分辨率检测两种神经化学物质来满足这一需求。这项提议的探测将检测可卡因和GABA，这是一种暗示可卡因成瘾的神经递质，至少有140万美国人基本上没有得到治疗。SB微系统公司已经开发出一种专有的MEMS工艺，用于制造可植入的多位点神经探针，用于研究啮齿动物的大脑。我们现有的探针具有特征尺寸，允许比现有的酶基电极提高10倍的空间分辨率。提出的探针将建立在我们现有的平台上，通过用适体分子使探针位点表面功能化，以检测特定的神经化学物质。多种神经化学物质的检测将通过不同的神经化学特异性检测分子到相邻的探针位点来实现。我们的第一阶段申请将通过以下方式确定这些探针商业化的可行性；1)通过调整适配体分子修饰、固定技术和电信号检测来改进功能化探针的制造，以达到最佳的灵敏度和时间响应；2)开发用于检测的恒电位器电路；3)开发用于特异性、敏感性和持久检测的新型适配体

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The specific aim of this application is to test the feasibility of developing a long-lasting, implantable probe for rapid measurement of multiple neurochemicals in the brain. Currently, neuroscience research is limited to three techniques for measuring the concentrations of neurochemicals in vivo; microdialysis to obtain average concentrations over a relatively long time period (5-20 minutes), enzyme-based biosensors to detect a single neurochemical every second over a relatively large spatial area (500¿m length electrode), and carbon-fiber microelectrodes to detect dopamine with fast scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV). A new tool is required for rapid detection of concentrations of multiple neurochemicals with spatial resolution on the cellular level. Such a tool would allow neuroscience researchers to ask new questions about the mechanisms behind brain physiology, disease states, and behaviors, such as drug consumption. The proposed neural probe fulfills this need by detecting two neurochemicals every 4 seconds with 50 ¿m spatial resolution. The proposed probe will detect cocaine and GABA, a neurotransmitter implied in cocaine addiction, which is an essentially untreated scourge of at least 1.4 million Americans. SB Microsystems has already developed a proprietary MEMS process for fabricating implantable, multi-site neural probes for studying the rodent brain. Our existing probes have the feature size that allows for a 10-fold spatial resolution improvement over the available enzyme-based electrodes. The proposed probe will build on our existing platform by functionalizing the probe site surfaces with aptamer molecules for the detection of specific neurochemicals. Detection of multiple neurochemicals will be achieved by patterning different neurochemical-specific detection molecules onto adjacent probe sites. Our Phase I application will determine feasibility for commercialization of these probes by; 1) improving functionalized probe fabrication by adjusting aptamer molecule modifications, immobilization technique, and electrical signal detection to achieve the best possible sensitivity and time response, 2) developing a potentiostat circuit for detection, 3) developing a novel aptamer for the specific, sensitive, and long-lasting detection of GABA and cocaine. Next, we will 4) functionalize the probe to detect multiple analytes with the newly developed aptamers and 5) implant probes into rats for in vivo data collection. Success in this Phase I feasibility study will be determined by the accurate detection of physiologically relevant concentrations of cocaine and GABA by probes that are stable in vivo for 2 days. In Phase II, we plan to develop more aptamers that can be applied to our probes for the detection of more than 2 neurotransmitters. We will use principles of robust design to turn our prototype into a commercial product. The attached letters of support indicate that we may be able to sell a successful prototype from Phase I to neuroscience researchers.