# High precision pharmacokinetic measurements in brain using a novel aptamer-based biosensor

> **NIH NIH SC2** · CALIFORNIA STATE UNIV-DOMINGUEZ HILLS · 2020 · $142,300

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Abstract: High precision pharmacokinetic measurements in brain using a novel aptamer-based
biosensor
DESCRIPTION The addiction potential of a drug is related to the rate at which it interacts with
the brain. Drug abuse is particularly problematic for prescribed therapeutic drugs as they are a
major contributor to the current addiction epidemic. In order to increase drug efficacy and
mitigate toxicity, it is crucial to monitor drug pharmacokinetics. Traditional methods for
monitoring drug pharmacokinetics require the removal of samples from the brain by
microdialysis for later analysis in the laboratory, rendering them slow and cumbersome and
greatly limiting their temporal resolution. In contrast, the development of a novel electrochemical
aptamer-based (E-AB) biosensor by the mentor's group has opened the door for the continuous,
ultra-high-resolution monitoring of drugs in living subjects. For example, the PI has already used
this technology to measure multiple drug targets, demonstrating accurate, high-precision
(seconds-resolved) pharmacokinetic tracking of these compounds over multiple hours in a live
animal model. To expand this promising platform for understanding drug metabolism, the PI will
apply it to characterizing the pharmacokinetics of compounds that cross the blood-brain barrier
(BBB). These will include the prescription opioid oxycodone and the addictive illicit drug
cocaine. Here, the PI intends to implement E-AB sensors to measure the real-time
pharmacokinetics these compounds in brain, thus not only improving our understanding of the
time course of drugs crossing the BBB, but to also demonstrate the functionality of this
potentially revolutionary new pharmacokinetic tool. To that end, the PI proposes the following
specific aims: 1) Expansion of high precision in vitro use of E-AB sensors to novel drug targets;
2) Expansion of E-AB sensors to measurements in the brain. Successful completion of these
aims will not only establish this novel technology and methodology in the PI's laboratory, but will
also further develop the technology to measure new, clinically-relevant compounds in a new and
important location. Additionally, this work will help develop the PI as an independent research
investigator to seek non-SCORE support in the future to expand his research program.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10000950
- **Project number:** 5SC2GM127268-02
- **Recipient organization:** CALIFORNIA STATE UNIV-DOMINGUEZ HILLS
- **Principal Investigator:** Philip Andrew Vieira
- **Activity code:** SC2 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $142,300
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-08-22 → 2022-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10000950

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10000950, High precision pharmacokinetic measurements in brain using a novel aptamer-based biosensor (5SC2GM127268-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10000950. Licensed CC0.

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