""""""""'On-the-Fly Field-potential Sensing Electrode Track'(OFFSET) based NSC sorting for brain research"""""""". Abstract: The past decade has acquired a profound paradigm shift in high throughput tools for brain research with the advent of programming techniques in micro/nano systems, stem cells, signal processing and genomics. One area in which these technologies have opened new avenues has been the application of pluripotent stem cells to study neurodegenerative diseases. The derivation of patient-specific reprogrammed somatic cells enables immunologically compatible viable brain tissue for use in studying disease development, creating therapies for neurological disorders and developing perfect models for the cells of the central nervous system that are harmed in the diseases. The major challenge in translating stem cell biology into such useful tissue is the establishment of effective separation methods to isolate differentiated cells and exclude cells that hinder graft performance or lead to teratoma formation. Unfortunately, conventional separation techniques for stem cells such as microscope-assisted manual isolation, FACS and MACS require intensive labor, exogenous labeling or genetic modification is not suitable for such clinical applications. Therefore, Biopico Systems teams with the researchers from University of California, Irvine for their expertise in microfluidics, the Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) Research Institute for their expertise in iPS cells therapy, and Arizona State University for their expertis in neuronal stimulus recording using microelectrode array in order to demonstrate the technical feasibility of a label-free electrical field potential marker based cell sorting for brain research With our understanding of the practical constraints of the system components from the laboratories of our collaborators, we propose to develop complex therapeutic technology for research and practice. We envision developing a family of systems to sort neural stem cells for several applications to lead technological transformation in neuroscience.

Public Health Relevance

Mental disorders affect about 20% of Americans annually costing an estimated $400 billion in direct costs and lost productivity. Our brain is the most complex tissue in our body, with a greater diversity of cell types than in all other organs and tissues combined. Therefore, the development of this novel label free high-throughput neural stem cell sorting technology of Biopico systems will contribute to the goals in neuroscience. Our endeavor to overcome the barriers that prevent successful translation of stem cell biology into clinical therapy is highly significant to improve human health and control of human diseases. Particularly, the system can be a potential tool for the replacement of lost progenies, remyelination and support of adjacent cells at risk in neurodegenerative disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's diseases, Huntington's disease, stroke, traumatic lesions such as spinal cord injury and for studying development and progression of such diseases.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Small Business Innovation Research Grants (SBIR) - Phase I (R43)
Project #
1R43MH104170-01A1
Application #
8712598
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-ETTN-C (10))
Program Officer
Grabb, Margaret C
Project Start
2014-06-05
Project End
2016-03-31
Budget Start
2014-06-05
Budget End
2015-03-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
$349,992
Indirect Cost
Name
Biopico
Department
Type
DUNS #
801391363
City
Irvine
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
92618