SBIR Phase I: Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA) Biosensor for Rapid Bioterrorism Related Agent Diagnosis

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This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will develop a self-contained enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) biochip, for rapid and confirmatory diagnosis of bioterrorist related pathogens. The ELISA chip utilizes microfluidic technology to automate and simplify the assay process on a small chip platform. The plastic chip (reagent pre-loaded) is affordable and ready for use, but eliminates the need for a network of tubing connected to bulky external reservoirs and pump systems used in current large clinical laboratory systems and microfluidic systems. The Phase I research will focus on developing the ELISA sensor platform, constructing a pressure driven micro-mechanism for automation, integrating the reader system, performing assays and evaluating the system's technical merits. The commercial application of this project will be in detecting biological warfare agents (BWA) and in managing BWA suspected patients. The ELISA based biochip has the potential to be used as a rapid testing standard to quickly yield preliminary data in advance of microbiology tests. The system, with its extreme sensitivity and specificity, also offers a great deal of commercial opportunities in the field of clinical diagnostics.