Oxytocin: Improving measurement sensitivity and specificity

In this Phase II program Polestar Technologies Inc. will fabricate a prototype system based on the principles demonstrated in Phase I and demonstrate its capability for specific and sensitive detection of both the 9-aminoacid and the 12-aminoacid forms of Oxytocin. During Year 1 of our Phase II program, a first generation prototype will be fabricated and optimized for all the three steps involved. We will also assess the sensitivity for detection using synthetically prepared oxytocin solutions for concentrations ranging from 2 ? 200 pg/mL concentrations. During Year 2, Polestar will fabricate and test a beta prototype and demonstrate its capability of measuring both forms of Oxytocin levels in both blood samples and saliva samples. Finally, in the Option period of the program, detailed clinical studies will be conducted in collaboration with Professor Karen Bales of the University of California at Davis (UC Davis). These studies will include 30 young adults which will be subjected to a series of standard tasks to induce stress. The blood and saliva samples from these subjects will be collected before and after the stress. The oxytocin levels in these samples will be measured and compared with the oxytocin levels of the control (before stress) samples.