# Optical probe for continuous real-time in vivo study of brain alcohol

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN · 2022 · $206,481

## Abstract

PROJECT ABSTRACT
Development of new therapeutics for alcohol use disorder requires continued progress in the
elucidation of the neuropharmacological mechanisms that underlie the changes in the brain that
repeated ethanol consumption produce. To this end, animal models, including rodents, have
been essential in furthering our understanding of how ethanol exposure alters the motivation to
consume ethanol. A key limitation in the field is the ability to monitor ethanol in tissues (including
brain) in real-time so that the experimenter can interpret any findings of neurophysiological or
neurochemical changes produced by ethanol. In other words, particularly with models of self-
administration of ethanol, it is extremely important to have a read out of the ethanol
concentrations that are achieved in brain tissue before, during, and after ethanol consumption
(as well as other tissues). Presently available technology does not allow continuous, real-time
determination of tissue ethanol concentrations. Our objective is to design, develop, and test an
optical fiber probe capable of selective detection of ethanol in vivo. There are three specific
aims. Aim 1 will focus on spectrophotometric measurements in order to determine key
parameters such as the most suitable optical wavelengths for ethanol measurements, along
with sensitivity and detection limits. In addition, potential interferences from other molecules that
are present in the brain at relatively high concentrations will be determined. Aim 2 will focus on
the design and fabrication of the optical probe. Fiber material, dimensions, measurement
configuration and appropriate surface coating will be determined. Aim 3 will focus on in vivo
testing in rats that consume ethanol. The obtained optical probe results will be directly
compared with standard microdialysis measurements with gas chromatography. Successful
development of the proposed ethanol sensing probe for real-time continuous measurement of
ethanol in rodent during normal drinking of ethanol would be a significant advance for the field of
alcohol research. It will enable more rigorous interpretation of experiment designed to test
hypotheses about mechanisms of action of ethanol. Moreover, the applicability of the developed
technology will extend beyond ethanol measurements and can be modified for other analytes
and applications where microdialysis is used.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10527743
- **Project number:** 1R21AA029770-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
- **Principal Investigator:** Tanya Hutter
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $206,481
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-08-18 → 2024-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10527743

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10527743, Optical probe for continuous real-time in vivo study of brain alcohol (1R21AA029770-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10527743. Licensed CC0.

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