Grantee Research Project Results
Disposable Micromachined Flow Immunoassay for Field Detection of Contaminants
EPA Contract Number: 68D70034Title: Disposable Micromachined Flow Immunoassay for Field Detection of Contaminants
Investigators: Churchill, Russell J.
Small Business: American Research Corporation of Virginia
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: September 1, 1997 through March 1, 1998
Project Amount: $70,000
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (1997) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Ecological Indicators/Assessment/Restoration , SBIR - Monitoring , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Description:
The use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect contaminants such as solvents, fuels, and pesticides in soil and water samples is now well established. Although ELISA and related methods can facilitate analysis of samples, several washing and separation steps are involved that require 30 to 120 minutes per sample to reach equilibrium. Recently, near infrared fluorescence immunoassays have been shown to exhibit unparalleled sensitivity to solvents, fuels, and pesticides in a laboratory setting. However, there remains a need to develop a reliable, highly sensitive, lightweight instrument capable of performing automated immunoassays of contaminants for field applications. This proposal suggests the development of a compact, fluorescent flow immunosensor having near-infrared emitting diode laser excitation that can be used in soil and water analysis. The innovation of the proposed system is the combination of microelectromechanical methods of sample introduction and preparation with sensitive diode laser-based near-infrared fluorescence-tagged immunological probes to provide a low-cost sensor having high sensitivity to a range of hazardous materials in field operations. The Phase I technical objectives include design and fabrication of a flow cell and modular probe for use in diode laser-based immunoassay, coupling of near-infrared fluorophores to contaminant-specific antibodies, and calibration of the flow immunosensor using nanoMolar hydrocarbon and pesticide samples for acquisition of families of test data to be used in the optimization of a proof-of-concept prototype system.Supplemental Keywords:
small business, SBIR, wastewater treatment, hazardous waste, engineering, immunoassay, monitoring., RFA, Scientific Discipline, Water, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Environmental Chemistry, Monitoring/Modeling, Environmental Monitoring, Engineering, Chemistry, & Physics, Environmental Engineering, immunoassay, contaminants, field monitoring, soil, micromachined flow immunoassayProgress and Final Reports:
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.