Development of Nicotine Vapor Inhalation Chambers for Rodent Self-Administration

Project Summary This Phase II SBIR project will developoptimizetestcommercializeand take to market an inhalation chamber that mimics the e cigarette technology being used by human usersand being popularized by ecigarette manufacturers and advertisersE cigarette use and abuse is a major public health concernbut little is known about the biology underlying e cigarette use and negative health impact of e cigaretteswhich makes it difficult for government agencies to regulate these productsCurrent animal models are inadequate for examining the biological effects and addictive properties of e cigarettes in a model that delivers vapor to animals in the same way humans self administer itThereforethe major purpose of this proposal is to develop a nicotine e cigarette vapor instrument to fill this gap in the market and in the e cigarette research fieldOur general approach will be to develop and install design modifications to our current vapor administration systems that include changes to hardwareAimsandampsoftware and user interfaceAimand vaporized solutionsAimand each of these design modifications will be tested in ratsComprehensive dosage charts will be developed as part of AimThis phase II SBIR application proposes work that will be critical for developing and optimizing a device that allows for nicotine vapor self administration in rodentsusing the identical technology and route of delivery experienced by human usersThe marketability for this type of device is high because there is no such device currently on the marketand also because this research area is a high funding priority for government agenciesThereforeour major goal is to develop and market a device that allows for customizable and reliable e cigarette vapor self administration in rats Project Narrative E cigarette use and abuse is a major public health concernbut little is known about the biology underlying ecigarette use and negative health impact of e cigaretteswhich makes it difficult for government agencies to regulate these productsCurrent animal models are inadequate for examining the biological effects and addictive properties of e cigarettes in a model that delivers vapor to animals in the same way humans selfadminister itHerewe propose collaborative work between La Jolla Alcohol ResearchIncand an academic basic science lab to develop and market a device that allows for customizable and reliable e cigarette vapor self administration in rats