Oxytocin: Improving measurement sensitivity and specificity

This SBIR Phase I Proposal aims to develop a detection method for enabling sensitive and specific measurement of oxytocin, particularly to discriminate between the 9- and 12- amino acid versions. It aims to demonstrate the feasibility of a novel hybrid molecular imprinting device that can accomplish the overall goals of the program. The technical approach will use the knowledge that the peptide conformations and charges can be tuned by experimental conditions such as pH and ion concentration as well as by the high affinity and specificity of molecular interactions. It will also use ac impedance technology and surface imprinting technique to achieve high sensitivity. Phase I results are expected to demonstrate a capability of distinguishing the 9- and 12-amino acid versions of oxytocin in Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS) at less than 0.25 pg/ml level.