Using microsphere technology for the electrochemical measurement of genotoxicity. - application identifier: 1813380 using microsphere technology for the electrochemical measurement of genotoxicity

Amelia Technologies LLC received a $303,165 Project Grant award from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) under the Environmental Health program (CFDA 93.113), with an award date of August 19, 2025 and completion date of July 31, 2026. The award supports the development and advancement of SphereDNA, a novel high-throughput genotoxicity screening platform that addresses critical gaps in toxicity assessment for engineered nanomaterials (ENMs). SphereDNA utilizes microfluidic impedance cytometry to measure DNA damage by detecting changes in electrical impedance as damaged DNA migrates within 50-micrometer agarose microspheres, eliminating the need for fluorescent imaging while significantly increasing throughput, reproducibility, and cost-effectiveness.

The SphereDNA platform is designed to evaluate the combinational effects of ENMs—such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles—UV radiation exposure, and chemical agents on cellular systems. The technology's modular scalability enables parallel testing of thousands of samples, positioning it as a comprehensive solution for assessing the toxicological potential of engineered nanomaterials in personal care products and other applications. This innovation directly aligns with NIEHS's mission to research environmental effects on biological systems and translate findings into disease reduction and health promotion strategies.

Project summary the increasing integration of engineered nanomaterials (ENMS) in personal care products presents significant health and safety challenges. ENMS like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles are highly reactive and capable of penetrating cells, posing unknown long-term risks to human health. Research has demonstrated that these nanomaterials exacerbate DNA damage under ultraviolet (UV) radiation, leading to increased genotoxicity and potentially contributing to cancer initiation. However, current toxicity evaluation methods lack the scalability and precision to assess the combinational effects of ENMS, UV radiation, and chemical agents, leaving a critical GAP in public health safety testing. The spheredna® platform addresses this GAP by introducing a novel high-throughput (HTP) genotoxicity screening approach. Leveraging microfluidic impedance cytometry, spheredna® measures DNA damage by detecting changes in electrical impedance as DNA migrates within a 50 ΜM agarose microsphere. The microsphere encapsulates mammalian cells, and upon lysis, the DNA is unwound in an alkaline environment. Damaged DNA migrates further through the microsphere, proportionally reducing its impedance. This label-free technique eliminates the need for fluorescent imaging, significantly increasing throughput and reproducibility while reducing costs. Spheredna® is designed for modular scalability, enabling testing of thousands of samples in parallel, making IT uniquely suited for evaluating complex exposures under realistic conditions. The platform aligns with the niehs nano environmental health and safety program's goals to detect, quantify, and assess the toxicological potential of ENMS. By providing an innovative and cost-effective solution, spheredna® empowers researchers, industry, and regulators to mitigate public health risks and improve oversight of ENM-containing products.