Grantee Research Project Results

Final Report: Development of Pathway Selective Cells and Assays for Sensitive Detection of Environmental Toxicants via High Throughput Label-Free Cell-Based Screening

EPA Contract Number: EPD13015
Title: Development of Pathway Selective Cells and Assays for Sensitive Detection of Environmental Toxicants via High Throughput Label-Free Cell-Based Screening
Investigators: Irlan, Jeff
Small Business: ACEA Biosciences, Inc.
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: May 15, 2013 through November 14, 2013
Project Amount: $78,881
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (2013) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: SBIR - Innovation in Manufacturing , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)

Description:

Environmental pollutants that impact critical biological pathways involved in human development and physiology can have unpredictable effects on health. The project goal is to develop and evaluate to the proof-of-concept level a product for quantitative evaluation of toxic effects of molecules on developmental pathways in a cellular model system. The product concept consists of a panel of validated cell lines, protocols and data analysis methods to assess toxic effects of molecules on critical receptor mediated pathways using high-throughput, label-free screening systems.

Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):

The cells were seeded onto plates containing microelectrode biosensors, resulting in alteration of the electrical impedance observed when an electric field is applied to the system. The resulting impedance readout allowed for rapid and precise measurement of subtle changes in cellular morphology or attachment, as well as long-term proliferation and cytotoxicity in response to treatment. The project successfully established a proof-of-concept for the product design.

Conclusions:

The development and commercialization of this package of validated cells, assay protocols and data analysis parameters will allow toxicologists to evaluate potential effects of environmental toxins on human cells in real time. The product may be promoted first as a service, to allow customers to submit samples for toxicology testing. Once established in the marketplace, the product package also could be sold to contract research laboratories that routinely perform toxicology testing and directly to customers for operation onsite.

Supplemental Keywords:

toxicants, tyrosine kinases, cell-based screening

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