SPECIAL NOTICE
A -- TECHNOLOGY/BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY Personal UV Biodosimeter Technology
- Notice Date
- 8/2/2011
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- NAICS
- 238990
— All Other Specialty Trade Contractors
- Contracting Office
- Department of Energy, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (DOE Contractor), Industrial Partnerships & Commercialization, 7000 East Avenue, L-795, Livermore, California, 94550
- ZIP Code
- 94550
- Solicitation Number
- FBO242-11
- Archive Date
- 9/3/2011
- Point of Contact
- Connie L Pitcock, Phone: 925-422-1072
- E-Mail Address
-
pitcock1@llnl.gov
(pitcock1@llnl.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- TECHNOLOGY/BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY Personal UV Biodosimeter Technology Opportunity : Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), operated by the Lawrence Livermore National Security (LLNS), LLC under contract with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is offering the opportunity to license a new personal UV biodosimeter technology for commercialization. Background : UV radiation is paradoxically the source of concern and of benefit for the human body. Although type B ultra-violet radiation (280 - 315 nm) is increasingly monitored and screened as the cause of erythema-sunburn, premature aging of skin and even skin cancer, natural exposure to sunlight is undeniably responsible for the synthesis of 90% of our vitamin D. Exposure to sunlight is indispensable to the human body as it controls almost 2,000 of 10,000 human genes. Its effect on mineralization is recognized in many processes now beyond bone health. Vitamin D deficiency [1] has been related to a number of chronic conditions and diseases in adults who are not exposed to adequate sunlight. So what is the right amount of sunlight exposure? The VITA-D Biodosimeter bioequivalence technology is intended to enable a user to abandon arbitrary rules of thumb and determine more precisely the appropriate sunlight that allows harvesting the sun's benefits while avoiding its threats. Description : The VITA-D personal biodosimeter technology is designed to measure the vitamin D synthetic capacity of sunlight and/or artificial ultraviolet radiation in-situ, using the same photochemical process from which vitamin D3 is synthesized in human skin. •· The innovators envision two embodiments of this technology: •o Polymer films are doped with molecules of pro-vitamin D and are used as bio-analogue photo-registering elements. The dose measurement is based on changes in the transmission coefficient properties of the film. This can result in a disposable patch and reader technology. •o Cholesteric liquid crystals (CLC) are doped with molecules of pro-vitamin D and the qualitative dose measurement is based on the color change, and the quantitative dose measurement is based on the shift of the reflection band wavelength. This results in a disposable CLC film and reader technology. Advantages : Personal biodosimeters can be portable and affordable. They allow in-situ and direct measurement of vitamin D-synthetic capacity of UV radiation: both sunlight and artificial sources. They can be used by health professionals, users of tanning equipment and health-conscious individuals. Biodosimeters generate measurements based upon the same molecular photochemistry by which Vitamin D is photosynthesized in human skin. Therefore, direct and reliable measurements can be taken in situ and read on the spot. Potential Applications : •· Reptile care •· Mushroom growth •· Protective cream and cosmetics industries •· Proactive tanning and skin protection for individuals including children and special needs individuals. •· Monitor structural and chemical breakdown of UV sensitive materials such as certain plastics Feature Benefit In-situ and direct measurement of vitamin D-synthetic capacity of UV radiation Proactive tanning, natural vitamin D synthesis and skin protection In-situ and direct measurement of vitamin D-synthetic capacity of UV radiation Agnostic measurement of both sunlight and artificial sources. One embodiment of this technology is a carried out in a polymer film. Possible disposable product. Development Status: Proof of principle experiments have been conducted and a biodosimeter device has been designed. The color-sensitive strip has also been designed in principle, but materials selections depend on the specific application. LLNL is seeking industry partners with a demonstrated ability to bring such inventions to the market. Moving critical technology beyond the Laboratory to the commercial world helps our licensees gain a competitive edge in the marketplace. All licensing activities are conducted under policies relating to the strict nondisclosure of company proprietary information. Please visit the IPO website at http://ipo.llnl.gov/workwithus/partneringprocess.php for more information on working with LLNL and the industrial partnering and technology transfer process. Note: THIS IS NOT A PROCUREMENT. Companies interested in commercializing the VITA-D Personal biodosimeter technology should provide a written statement of interest, which includes the following: 1. Company Name and address. 2. The name, address, and telephone number of a point of contact. •3. A description of corporate expertise and facilities relevant to commercializing this technology. Written responses should be directed to: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Industrial Partnerships Office P.O. Box 808, L-795 Livermore, CA 94551-0808 Attention: FBO 242-11 Please provide your written statement within thirty (30) days from the date this announcement is published to ensure consideration of your interest in LLNL's VITA-D Personal Biodosimeter technology. [1] Vitamin D deficiency is linked to rickets, osteoporosis, and many chronic diseases such as cancer (breast, ovarian, colon and prostate), chronic pain, chronic fatigue, autoimmune diseases (multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and Type 1 diabetes), high blood pressure, mental illnesses, heart disease, psoriasis and tuberculosis.
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- SN02518860-W 20110804/110802235447-0cbbd90a58dcde71d412f4edf2451c95 (fbodaily.com)
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