Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering-Based Oxytocin Quantitation

The ability to readily and rapidly detect the concentration of the 9- and 12-amino acid oxytocin analogs will significantly enhance the efficacy of understanding the conditions under which oxytocin is employed by the body. Ionica Sciences will take advantage of recent miniaturization of highly sensitive instrumentation that allows field application of surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), a spectroscopic method that demonstrates exquisite sensitivity. This approach has the twin advantages of significant signal amplification and narrow spectral features, facilitating the identification of multiple target analytes within a single mixture. Using aptamer-modified nanoparticles to differentiate the two forms of oxytocin, which have served as the basis for numerous detection and quantitation methods for biological targets, we will capture and quantitate the target molecules using spectroscopic features unique to it. The modular format of this system will allow for it to be readily adapted for a wide range of pharmaceuticals, hormones, and other small molecule targets.