Grantee Research Project Results

Final Report: Ultrasensitive Biosensor for Detecting Biotoxins in Drinking Water

EPA Contract Number: EPD04010
Title: Ultrasensitive Biosensor for Detecting Biotoxins in Drinking Water
Investigators: Miller, Michael
Small Business: BioScale Inc.
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: March 1, 2004 through August 31, 2004
Project Amount: $69,557
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (2004) RFA Text |  Recipients Lists
Research Category: SBIR - Homeland Security , Watersheds , Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)

Description:

The goal of this research project was to evaluate a micro-electrochemical systems (MEMS)-based sensor technology for detecting low levels of biotoxins in drinking water. A field-deployable detection system capable of detecting low levels of toxins (< 1 ng/ml) in drinking water, with a time-to-result of less than 30 minutes, would fulfill a critical need in homeland security threat management.

Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):

BioScale, Inc., demonstrated a detection system with the requisite sensitivity for biotoxin detection. The feasibility of the technology has been demonstrated by detecting surrogate proteins at concentrations ranging from 100 pg/ml to 10 ng/ml. The protocol includes a simple sample preparation process that can be executed in the field. After optimization, it is projected that the entire protocol can be executed in less than 30 minutes.

Conclusions:

BioScale’s sensor technology can be developed into a field-portable instrument capable of detecting low levels of toxins (< 1 ng/ml) in drinking water, with a time-to-result of less than 30 minutes. A Phase II effort has been proposed that will focus on the development of a detection protocol for botulinum toxin in drinking water. The protocol will include a simple sample preparation process that can be executed in the field. To quantify the amount of toxins present, the processed sample is flowed over BioScale’s MEMS-based sensor capable of processing several hundred microliters of sample per minute. Chips are manufactured in a multiple sensor format, allowing simultaneous detection of several analytes and/or combined monitoring of analytes and controls. In the commercialization option, the performance of BioScale’s system will be compared directly to that of a commercially available lateral flow immunoassay test strip. The test matrix also will investigate the effects of interferent and sample matrix on the performance of BioScale’s system.

The proposed sensor technology can be deployed to detect a wide range of biological targets; therefore, it is applicable to a broad range of biodetection applications, including pathogen detection for environmental monitoring or homeland defense, medical diagnostics, and pharmaceutical development and production. Applications within the water monitoring area include biotoxin detection as well as bacteria and protozoa detection.

Supplemental Keywords:

small business, SBIR, EPA, biosensor, biotoxins, drinking water, water security, immunosensor, biodetection, micro-electrochemical systems, MEMS, homeland security, bioterrorism, botulinum, pathogen detection, environmental monitoring,, RFA, Scientific Discipline, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Water, Environmental Chemistry, Engineering, Chemistry, & Physics, Monitoring/Modeling, Drinking Water, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Monitoring, community water system, biosensors, homeland security, field portable monitoring, measurement, field portable systems, biosensor, monitoring, analytical methods, environmental measurement, chemical detection techniques, drinking water system, drinking water contaminants, drinking water regulations, environmental contaminants, field monitoring, continuous monitoring sensors, analytical chemistry, automated water monitoring, biosensing system