AM Biotechnologies in partnership with Sandia National Laboratories has been awarded a $600,000 Phase II SBIR Grant from NASA for the development of a Thioaptamer Diagnostic System (TDS). The TDS will rapidly quantify clinically-relevant biomarkers in complex samples during space flight using only microliters of fluid. The system combines ambient-stable, long-shelf-life thioaptamer affinity agent assays produced by AM Biotechnologies with a handheld microfluidic gel electrophoresis affinity assay quantification technology. The system is easy to use, compatible with operation in microgravity, and designed to permit simultaneous quantification of 32 or more biomarkers from a single astronaut sample.

Successful development of this system will provide NASA with both near-term as well as long-term advantages. Near-term, a non-clinical version of the system will be extraordinarily useful for conducting research on the International Space Station into human adaptation to microgravity. The TDS will be able to monitor levels of numerous biomarkers in astronauts in orbit and would eliminate the need to freeze samples in orbit and return them to Earth for ground-based testing. Long-term, the clinical version of the TDS will provide a robust, flight-tested diagnostic capability for missions to the moon and Mars. Virtually any type of ambient-stable assay that is of interest to NASA could be developed for the system.

Other TDS applications will include use as a commercially available laboratory research instrument, and later as an FDA-approved hand-held clinical diagnostic system for non-traditional and resource poor locations. Clinical TDS units will be targeted for use in physician offices and by emergency responders.