Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: Real-time Detection and Identification of Chemical, Biological, and Explosive (CBE) Agents With Low False Alarm Rates
EPA Contract Number: EPD10045Title: Real-time Detection and Identification of Chemical, Biological, and Explosive (CBE) Agents With Low False Alarm Rates
Investigators: Schut, David
Small Business: Voxtel, Inc.
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: March 1, 2010 through August 31, 2010
Project Amount: $69,996
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (2010) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) , SBIR - Homeland Security
Description:
There exists a need for technologies that can protect the health and welfare of the American people in a terrorist emergency by detecting, containing, and neutralizing deliberate acts of biological contamination, so that the contaminated assets can be returned to productive use.
Previous developments in this type of sensing have focused on the initial identification of threats and rapid diagnosis, and they often focus on military applications with a view to weaponized bioagents. A relative lack of attention has been paid to the later stages in a deliberate contamination event, including sensing and cleanup long after the threat has been identified and initial protective steps have been taken — that is, with a view to the environmental aspects of an event rather than the immediate human health threat. Technologies are desired that specifically address more common biological agents that might be prepared and deployed more readily by a terrorist group, with cross-application to healthcare and food applications where the inexpensive detection of mundane pathogens has considerable market potential.
This program utilizes specially surface-functionalized nanoparticles for the selective detection of biological threats or contaminants such as Salmonella, E. coli, and/or B. anthracis. The method of operation for these materials is based on the optical properties and selective binding of a series of specially made nanomaterials.
The nanomaterial in question is a metal-oxide-based nanoparticle smaller than 20 nm in diameter. In its basic form, this material has a characteristic emission profile when stimulated with UV light. To form the biodetector, this material is modified with a highly selective antibody that is specially prepared to cancel the characteristic emission of the nanoparticle. In the presence of the target, the antibody changes shape and no longer cancels the emission, thereby transducing the antibody-pathogen interaction into a detectable signal.
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
A series of experiments established the nanomaterial’s basic properties and its successful inactivation when prepared with the antibody. The nanomaterials then were shown to react to the presence of the selected pathogen, and showed specificity of response in the presence of non-target pathogens, i.e., did not display false-positive response.Conclusions:
Voxtel completed all the Phase I technical objectives successfully and produced a biosensing material that was effective in the specific detection of pathogens. The results were very encouraging as a proof of concept for the biosensing system in the laboratory environment. The Phase I results have attracted interest from EPA groups, as well as commercial attention for use in health care applications.
COMMERCIALIZATION
Voxtel has discussed the Phase I findings with potential commercial partners, including one (Avery-Dennison) that is interested in the technology for Staphylococcus monitoring in hospital environments. This potential partner has provided a letter of support for the Phase II effort and has scheduled an onsite meeting at Voxtel’s Nanophotonics Division laboratory facilities.
The use of these nanomaterials provides a few key benefits in commercializing the technology. First, in this system, the material that interacts with the threat is physically separated from the sensing functions. This decoupling of functions allows the use of different detection systems that can be separately optimized for portability, maximum sensitivity, or lowest cost, for example. Second, the use of nanomaterials provides a great deal of versatility in adapting the material to different threat species or chemicals, and allows it to be adapted for use in various formulations for different sensing applications.
Supplemental Keywords:
small business, SBIR, EPA, homeland security, chemical warfare, biological agents, explosives, CBE agents, CBE colorimetric technology, biological contamination, surface-enhanced Raman scattering, terrorist attack, false alarm rate, FAR, signal response, active laser systems, quick response, contamination, bioterrorism, real-time CBE detection, water security, food securityThe 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.