TRANS-MEMBRANE WATER AND ION MEASUREMENT SYSTEM (TWIMS)

描述(由申请人提供)： BioTechPlex建议开发一种跨膜水和离子测量系统(TWIMS)，以测量通过生物膜的微小水通量及其电生理特性。BioTechPlex已经完成了第一阶段中提出的所有目标)开发了一种用于荧光光子检测和分析的新型光源和相关光学元件。B)将台式光学元件集成到测量系统中，对该系统进行了测试，并证明其在测量跨膜水通量方面的灵敏度显著提高。在这个第二阶段的项目中，BioTechPlex将整合第一阶段开发的电光原理和概念，建立一个由8个组织组成的腔系统。为了开发TWIMS的可制造性原型，我们将着手开发更多创新技术。其中包括：1)荧光检测技术；2)腔和组织支架的原型，以容纳本地上皮和融合组织培养；以及3)一个虚拟仪器平台，用于测量腔到基侧和基侧的腔水流量、电位差和短路电流。这一多室系统的设计将满足学术界、政府和工业界生理学家和药理学家的需求。它将被设计用于科学研究实验以及用于药物发现行业。BioTechPlex计划将TWIMS用于科学研究和药物发现，这些领域包括但不限于：1)慢性支气管炎、哮喘、支气管扩张和囊性纤维化等呼吸系统疾病；2)腹泻、霍乱感染和严重脱水等胃肠疾病；3)肾功能衰竭等肾脏疾病；以及4)干眼综合征等眼病。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): 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.