Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: Environmental Sensing System Enhanced With Nested Concentrating Electrodes (ESSENCE) for Safe and Sustainable Water Resources
EPA Contract Number: EPD14025Title: Environmental Sensing System Enhanced With Nested Concentrating Electrodes (ESSENCE) for Safe and Sustainable Water Resources
Investigators: Collins, Dr. John
Small Business: Biopico Systems
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: May 1, 2014 through April 30, 2015
Project Amount: $100,000
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (2014) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) , SBIR - Drinking Water and Water Monitoring
Description:
Implementing a reliable, efficient and cost-effective procedure for monitoring pathogen levels in water is a major challenge. The remotely operated ESSENCE system is equipped with a microfluidic double concentration chip and a portable Raman spectra reader that can transmit data to a server for analysis and water quality detection. The purpose of the research is to develop a continuous label-free sample processing and detection system for pathogens in water maximizing the signal, minimizing any human intervention, increasing sensitivity and avoiding any additional reagents.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
An ESSENCE chip that uses cascaded electrostatic separation of pathogens through interconnecting channels from the primary spiral channel to the secondary spiral channel and a detection system utilizing Raman Spectra was developed. Biopico Systems has considered two configurations of a spiral chip with electrodes to carry out electrostatic separation of bacteria. Further concentration of the pathogens is accomplished using positive dielectrophoretic capture electrodes. Such an isolation strategy in combination with micro-Raman spectroscopy is used to identify different strains of pathogens.
Conclusions:
Biopico Systems has developed a printed circuit-board-based fluidic chip for electrostatic separation of bacterial solution and distinguished bacterial concentration using impedance spectra. Moreover, the company has carried out an extensive Raman spectra on two types of bacterial strains Alteromonas sp. (B2) and Alteromonas sp. (B4) and culture media to distinguish between them. Biopico Systems was able to distinguish the two types of bacteria and blank solution using several Raman peaks 640 cm-1, 875 cm-1, 892 cm-1 and 2125 cm-1.
Potential applications of the research: The ESSENCE system will be targeted for a wide array of applications, including biodefense, environmental monitoring, animal health care, food safety, diagnostics, pathology, clinical research, forensics and drug discovery. An immediate application of the technology will be to indicate trends in water quality in applications in which continuous monitoring is critical, including recreational water (beaches), recycled water (irrigation), and algae blooms in lakes and reservoirs. With the approval from EPA, the technology can be utilized in support of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, which identifies contaminants and sets legal limits for their presence in drinking water.
Supplemental Keywords:
sensing, electrodes, water, biodetection, pathogenThe 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.