Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: Development of a Reliable, Low-Cost and User-Friendly Spot Test Kit for Leaded Paint and Dust Based on Recent Advances in Bionanotechnology
EPA Contract Number: EPD07081Title: Development of a Reliable, Low-Cost and User-Friendly Spot Test Kit for Leaded Paint and Dust Based on Recent Advances in Bionanotechnology
Investigators: Liu, Juewen , Kellner, David
Small Business: DzymeTech, Inc.
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: II
Project Period: April 23, 2007 through April 23, 2009
Project Amount: $225,000
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase II (2007) Recipients Lists
Research Category: SBIR - Lead Paint Detection and Removal , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Description:
DzymeTech, Inc., proposed to develop a reliable spot test kit that is based on patented and patent-pending technologies developed by Dr. Yi Lu’s group at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). The technology employs catalytic DNA for lead detection. Under SBIR Phase I funding from EPA, DzymeTech demonstrated the feasibility of using the catalytic DNA-based detection approach for lead in dust in terms of sensitivity, selectivity, interference, precision, stability, and long-term storage. In Phase II, DzymeTech proposed to build and test a prototype of the lead sensor. The prototype kit will contain all of the sensor reagents and components with minimal manual transfer of solution needed. The prototype kit was characterized in terms of sensitivity, selectivity, and stability.Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
DzymeTech developed a simple-to-use kit for the detection of lead in dust. This kit contains everything necessary to collect, extract, and test for lead. The collection step utilizes a swab. This swab is then inserted into a tube with 25 percent nitric acid to extract the lead from the dust. This acid solution is diluted 5000:1 and then passed through a sensor housing containing the DNA biosensor and other necessary chemicals. The sample with the DNA enzyme then passes into a cuvette, which is placed in the fluorimeter. A start button is pushed, and the instrument gives a reading in mg/cm2. Sensitivities were shown to be around 5 ppb, and most interferences did not affect the reading unless they were very high (10 ppm or greater for iron). A shelf life of greater than 6 months was demonstrated, with no refrigeration requirement. The instrument interface was designed to allow for easy calibration, and stores time- and date-stamped results.Conclusions:
This project has led to the development of a test kit for lead in dust that will be commercially available in the near future. This system is compact, field portable, and easy to use. Everything was designed so that the end user would not require any special training or knowledge of chemistry. This product will add to DzymeTech's platform technology for the detection of lead in water in paint, as well as a variety of other metals that DzymeTech will be working on in the future. The test kit is made possible by the DNA enzyme reactions developed in the Lu laboratory at the University of Illinois. This chemistry is complex, yet elegant enough that it could be translated into an intuitive, simple process without losing the exquisite sensitivity and selectivity for lead.Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 2 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
small business, SBIR, EPA, lead detection, lead paint removal, lead-based paint, lead sensor, environmental monitoring, treatment/control, sustainable industry/business, scientific discipline, RFA, technology for sustainable environment, sustainable environment, technology, environmental engineering, environmental monitoring, nanotechnology, biotechnology, bionanotechnology, Sustainable Industry/Business, RFA, Scientific Discipline, TREATMENT/CONTROL, Technology for Sustainable Environment, Sustainable Environment, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Monitoring, Technology, biotechnology, lead based paint detection, nanotechnology
SBIR Phase I:
Development of a Reliable, Low-Cost, and User-Friendly Spot Test Kit for Leaded Paint and Dust Based on Recent Advances in Bionanotechnology | Final ReportThe 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.