CNS
Robust detection of CNS biomarkers in small sample volumes required
The most common central nervous system (CNS) disorders are chronic, slowly vitiating processes manifested by highly subjective and context dependent signs and symptoms. With the exception of a few rare familial degenerative disorders, they have ill-defined or undefined pathophysiology. Samples selected for analysis and treatment trials using clinical criteria are inevitably heterogeneous. The dependence on traditional endpoints result in early proof-of-concept trials, which take a long time and provide a very poor signal to noise ratio. Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies are looking at biomarkers as an integral part of the decision-making process supported by new technologies, such as highly sensitive and robust immunoassays, as a means of rationalizing CNS analysis and drug development.
With the detection of CNS biomarkers in only microliters of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Imperacer® has proven to be a valuable tool for research, e.g. in the field of Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.
The most promising markers are TAU and its phosphorylated forms, beta Amyloid proteins and Ubiquitin.
In this research field Imperacer® was for example used to detect total and phosphorylated TAU in concentrations below 15 pg/ml.
A major challenge in this particular project was the small sample volume of only 2 µl per measurement.
