Assessment of ion-selective optical nanosensors for drug screening applications

Abstract

Ion channels represent an important category of drug targets. They play a significant role in numerous physiological functions, from membrane excitation and signaling to fluid absorption and secretion. An ion-channel assay system using optical nanosensors has recently been developed. This high-throughput, high-content system improves on the existing patch clamp and fluorescent dye technologies that presently dominate the ion-channel screening market. This paper introduces the nanosensor technology, reviews the current market for ion-channel assays, assesses the costs associated with the nanosensors, and evaluates their commercialization potential.