SBIR Phase I: Novel Microsphere Biomaterials for Genomics and Industry

这个小型企业创新研究第一阶段项目建议开发基于生物材料的新型微粒子，称为球体。这些微粒是独立的微米级反应堆，能够在不需要昂贵仪器的情况下进行基因分析。这种新型复合微珠具有温度稳定性、耐溶剂性、可控浮力等特性，将在许多不同的市场得到应用。球体方法将多层天然和合成聚合物、金属、陶瓷和其他化学品结合在一起，生产出新的复合珠子、纤维和涂层。相比之下，使用微米大小的荧光颗粒表面覆盖抗体的多功能乳胶珠的生产是劳动密集型的。粒子批处理会导致聚集、表面处理不均匀和信号分子丢失。这一阶段的项目提出了一种利用微尺度系统在连续过程中合成均匀颗粒的新方法。在这个过程中，珠子的形成、光学试剂的掺入和表面修饰的化学过程预计将是直接的、化学计量的和可预测的。该项目的商业应用领域包括生物医学研究、诊断、电子和国防。

0214808PeggThis Small Business Innovation Research Phase I Project proposes to develop novel biomaterial-based microparticles called Sphericules. These microparticles are self-contained micrometer-scale reactors capable of performing genetic analysis without expensive instruments. The new composite beads, with temperature stability, solvent resistance, controlled buoyancy and other properties, will find applications in many diverse markets. The Sphericule methodology combines layers of natural and synthetic polymers, metals, ceramics and other chemicals to produce new composite beads, fibers and coatings. In contrast, multifunctional latex beads using a surface coating of antibody on a micron sized fluorescent particle are labor intensive to produce. Particle batch processing results in aggregation, uneven surface treatment, and loss of signal molecules. This Phase I project proposes a novel method for synthesizing uniform particles using micro-scale systems in a continuous process. In this process, the chemistries of bead formation, optical reagent incorporation and surface modifications are expected to be straightforward, stoichiometric and predictable. The commercial applications of this project are in the areas of biomedicalresearch, diagnostics, electronics, and defense.