POTENTIOMETRIC PROBES LLC — Department of Health and Human Services SBIR Phase I: 101

Description

Project Summary Abstract Potentiometric Probes Voltage sensitive dyes can be applied to brain cells and tissue to study the electrical signals used by the brain to functionThe fluorescent dye molecules light up under a microscope and convert tiny electrical signals to measurable changes in light intensityAll neurological disorders involve changes in the brain s normal electrical activity and can potentially be studied with voltage sensitive dyesPotentiometric Probes is working to develop voltage sensitive dyes that are easy enough to use in virtually any academic or pharmaceutical industry research lab studying the brain s electrical signalingTo make this possible the dyes should be as sensitive as possible to voltage to provide a readout that is both very fast and clearPotentiometric Probes has developed a new voltage sensitive dye technology that can potentially meet this goal and deliver the sensitivity requiredIf successfulthis would make voltage imaging accessible to a much wider body of researchers and provide them with a more powerful tool for studying the electrical signals underlying normal and pathological brain functionOne daydyes may even be used in human patients to help diagnose and better treat neurological disorders Project Narrative Potentiometric Probes Successfully understanding and eventually treating neurological disorders such as schizophreniaor autism will require a better mechanistic understanding of electrical signaling and communication in the brainNewhighly sensitive voltage sensitive dyes can provide a clear readout of the brain s very rapid electrical signaling to researchers and scientists in academic and pharmaceutical industry labs working on these disorders