# High-throughput Integrated Magneto-electrochemical Exosome (HiMEX) platform to identify neurodevelopmental markers associated with pre and postnatal oxycodone exposure

> **NIH NIH R21** · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · 2020 · $210,744

## Abstract

Dependency on prescription opioids during and after pregnancy poses a significant health risk, both to mother
and child. Newborns exposed to opioids would experience a drug withdrawal syndrome and have elevated risk
of cognitive disorders. Clinical care for these exposed neonates, however, is challenged by a current
fundamental gap in knowledge: lack of reliable biomarkers available to objectively assess newborn's risk from
drug-exposure: it is poorly understood how pre- and postnatal opioid use affects offsprings, particularly with
neurodevelopment, and no reliable biomarkers are available to objectively assess a newborn's risk from drug-
exposure. We seek to advance a new assay platform to effectively monitor newborns' exposure to oxycodone
(oxy). Our approach will be based on two innovative approaches: extracellular vesicles (EVs) as a biomarker
and iMEX (integrated magneto-electrochemical exosome) as a sensor platform. Aim 1. We will identify EV
protein signatures of high-risk oxy-exposure. We will use our rodent models to emulate in-utero and postnatal
oxy-exposures. EVs from brains of oxy-exposed offspring will be collected and analyzed via quantitative
proteomics to identify differentially-expressed proteins. Aim 2. We will implement the second generation iMEX
with significantly expand analytical capacities. We will enhance iMEX detection sensitivity by exploring a new
signal amplification (nanoplasmonics); establish a unified assay to detect both transmembrane and
intravesicular markers; and construct a high-throughput detector (a 96 well-plate format). This new system will
be used to screen plasma EVs from oxy-exposed animals. The success of this project will generate
comprehensive protein data on brain-derived EVs under oxy-exposure and critically EVs' potential as a
biomarker. Furthermore, the insights gained will set the stage to further extend HiMEX technology for clinical
validation. Our long-term goal is to deliver a minimally-invasive blood test for risk assessment and timely
intervention for oxy-exposure.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10017043
- **Project number:** 5R21DA049577-02
- **Recipient organization:** MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Hakho Lee
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $210,744
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-30 → 2022-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10017043

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10017043, High-throughput Integrated Magneto-electrochemical Exosome (HiMEX) platform to identify neurodevelopmental markers associated with pre and postnatal oxycodone exposure (5R21DA049577-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10017043. Licensed CC0.

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