PROPOSAL NUMBER: | 04 B2.03-8663 |
SUBTOPIC TITLE: | Understanding and Utilizing Gravitational Effects on Molecular Biology and for Medical Applications |
PROPOSAL TITLE: | Single Electron Transistor Platform for Microgravity Proteomics |
SMALL BUSINESS CONCERN (Firm Name, Mail Address,
City/State/Zip, Phone)
QUANTUM LOGIC DEVICES
7801 North Lamar,
Suite B-161
Austin ,TX 78752 - 1017
(512) 302 - 5030
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR/PROJECT MANAGER (Name, E-mail,
Mail Address, City/State/Zip, Phone)
Louis Brousseau
lou@quantumlogicdevices.com
7801 North Lamar, Suite B-161
Austin, TX
78752 -1017
(512) 302 - 5030
TECHNICAL ABSTRACT (LIMIT 200 WORDS)
Proteomic studies in
microgravity are crucial to understanding the health effects of spaceflight on
astronauts. Unfortunately, existing tools for measuring protein, antibody, and
enzyme expression are limited to earth-borne laboratories due to their
complexity and size. This proposal offers a novel technology that provides a
palm-top platform suitable for real-time experiments on the Space Shuttle or
International Space Station. The technology uses nanoelectronic transistors
coupled to antibody bioprobes to provide a label-free "direct detection" system
that is rapid and easy to use with minimal skill. The system is completely
self-contained, including all reagents and waste products, and operated from a
PDA-style handheld computer. Phase I will demonstrate the detection concept and
Phase II will deliver prototype units for testing.
POTENTIAL NASA COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS (LIMIT 100 WORDS)
The
proposed endpoint of this program is a handheld bioassay system that would be
ideally suited for all biomedical research and diagnostic needs of current and
future space missions.
POTENTIAL NON-NASA COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS (LIMIT 100 WORDS)
Point
of care and telemedical diagnostics are the most rapidly growing segment of the
medical testing market, for which this technology would be ideally suited.