Grantee Research Project Results
SELEX DNA Aptamer Filter for Removal of Pesticides and Chloroaromatics
EPA Contract Number: 68D02033Title: SELEX DNA Aptamer Filter for Removal of Pesticides and Chloroaromatics
Investigators: Bruno, John G.
Small Business: OmniSite BioDiagnostics Inc.
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: April 1, 2002 through September 1, 2002
Project Amount: $69,992
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (2002) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Ecological Indicators/Assessment/Restoration , SBIR - Monitoring , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Description:
OmniSite BioDiagnostics, Inc. (OmniSite) proposes to develop artificial receptors composed of DNA oligomers (called "aptamers") for binding and removal of organophosphorous and chlorinated pesticides. Aptamers will be generated by the systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) combinatorial chemistry technique. SELEX aptamers offer several major advantages over antibody technology; most notably eliminating the use of animal hosts, resulting in reduced cost and higher affinity and specificity to target pollutants of interest. In addition, SELEX DNA aptamers can be mass produced with relative ease compared to antibody production and purification. The antipesticide aptamers will be immobilized onto a column matrix and used for affinity filtration of drinking water.In Phase I, OmniSite proposes to demonstrate the utility of column-immobilized DNA aptamers to bind and remove diazinon, malathion, and pentachlorophenol from contaminated water. In Phase II, OmniSite will expand its repertoire of antipesticide aptamers with an emphasis on selecting aptamers that bind common moieties of organophosphorous and chlorinated pesticides or chloroaromatic wood preservatives, so as to bind and remove the largest array of pesticides from drinking water. OmniSite also will clone and sequence the antipesticide aptamers and optimize water purification protocols using the aptamer column. This project has high commercialization potential, because water purification filters are common store items and the aptamer-columns could be produced at very low cost.
Supplemental Keywords:
small business, SBIR, aptamer, systemic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment, filter, drinking water, filtration, pesticides, chloroaromatics., RFA, Scientific Discipline, Water, Environmental Chemistry, Health Risk Assessment, Chemistry, Drinking Water, monitoring, Safe Drinking Water, human health effects, systemic evaluation of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX), detection, exposure and effects, disinfection byproducts (DPBs), exposure, kinetics, community water system, treatment, aptamer filter, pesticide removal, drinking water contaminants, chloroaromatics, water treatment, other - risk managementProgress 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.