Grantee Research Project Results
MEMS Biosensor for In Situ Drinking Water Analysis
EPA Contract Number: 68D99052Title: MEMS Biosensor for In Situ Drinking Water Analysis
Investigators: Salazar, Noe
Small Business: JCP Technologies Inc.
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: September 1, 1999 through March 1, 2000
Project Amount: $70,000
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (1999) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Ecological Indicators/Assessment/Restoration , SBIR - Monitoring , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Description:
The use of nucleic acid-based detection technologies provides the greatest potential for highly specific and sensitive detection of pathogens in drinking water systems. These technologies are driving the development of miniature, highly portable biosensors. The most promising approach to developing the ideal biosensor is microfabrication of identification systems that mimic diagnostic schemes used in microbiology laboratories. Although there is much activity in this area, most efforts suffer from the inability to properly marry microfabrication technology with the molecular biology required for sensitive and specific detection. To eliminate these shortcomings, JCP Technologies proposes to: (1) develop an assay that takes advantage of DNA probe specificity with increased sensitivity through coupled branch DNA ( DNA) signal amplification, and (2) design the microfluidic system necessary to perform the assay on a microfabricated silicon chip. Accomplishment of these objectives will allow development of microelectromechanical system-based biosensors for specific detection and identification of microbial pathogens in drinking water.Microfabrication techniques, although initially expensive to develop, hold the promise for being cheap to manufacture in mass quantities. By using DNA probes for bacterial targets of commercial interest, low-cost, portable diagnostic equipment will be developed. Significant markets for such biosensors include food processing, veterinary, agricultural, environmental, industrial, and clinical markets. Other beneficiaries of these systems will be the EPA and other government inspection agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration.
Supplemental Keywords:
small business, SBIR, monitoring, engineering, EPA., RFA, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Scientific Discipline, Water, Engineering, Engineering, Chemistry, & Physics, Microbiology, Monitoring/Modeling, Drinking Water, cost-effective sensors, assays, treatment, analyzer, in situ sensor, measurement, biosensor, detect, microbial risk management, monitoring, pathogens, pathogenic microbes, bacteria monitoring, biosensing, drinking water contaminants, exposure, sensor technology, biosensing system, nucleic acid-based detection technology, bacteria, detectionProgress and Final Reports:
SBIR Phase II:
MEMS Biosensor for In Situ Drinking Water AnalysisThe 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.