SBIR Phase I: In-Situ Oceanographic Phytoplankton Sensor

9561010费尔南德斯这个小型企业创新研究第一阶段项目将开发一种新型的基于原位荧光寿命的传感器，用于确定小规模浮游植物的分布和生理状态。将开发一种通过测定叶绿素a荧光寿命来确定浮游植物生理状态的方法，并将设计一种廉价、坚固、紧凑的仪器来现场实施该方法。寿命检测将使用相位荧光法进行。该仪器的实现基于使用以调制发光二极管(LED)为光源的互相关法和数字数据采集分析。10ps量级的分辨率将允许准确地测定已知在各种生理条件下发生的胆绿素荧光寿命变化。这可能是第一个利用荧光寿命感应的海洋浮游植物传感器。潜在的商业应用范围从海洋传感到实验室研究。潜在市场包括苗圃、育种、组织培养、植物基因工程、生物反应器的在线过程分析和水产养殖。

9561010 Fernandez This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I Project will develop a novel in situ fluorescence lifetime-based sensor for determination of small-scale phytoplankton distribution and physiological status. A method will be developed to determine phytoplankton physiological status from determination of cholorophyll a fluorescence lifetimes, and an inexpensive, rugged, compact instrument will be designed to implement the method in situ. Lifetime sensing will be performed using phase fluorometry. The instrument implementation is based on the use of a cross-correlation method using a modulated light-emitting diode (LED) as a light source and digital data acquisition an analysis. A resolution of the order of 10 ps will permit accurate determination of cholorophyll fluorescence lifetime changes that are know to occur under various physiological conditions. This may be the first oceanographic phytoplankton sensor to exploit fluorescence lifetime sensing. Potential commercial applications range from oceanographic sensing to laboratory research. Potential markets include plant nursery, breeding, tissue culture, plant genetic engineering, on -line process analysis in bioreactors, and aquaculture.