SBIR Phase I: A Rapid Proteomic Biometric Instrument for Detecting Exposure to Biowarfare Agents

这个小型企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目将使用一种新型的自包含微电化学检测技术来测量人类蛋白质对特定生物制剂的反应。 最终的结果将是一个嵌入式计算机控制的，自动化的，手持设备，可用于测量蛋白质水平下降到56 zeptomole从针刺样品的全血在不到30分钟。 阵列上的每个检测位点将由间隔在100 nm尺寸内的叉指电极组成，以优化氧化还原循环和信号放大。 虽然这项正在申请专利的技术以前已被证明可以检测多种病原体，但炭疽被选为第一阶段的工作，因为它适合用作生物武器。 炭疽是一种自然发生的有机体，具有高度抗性的孢子，相对容易大量生长。 2001年10月散发的带有炭疽杆菌的信件证明了它作为生物武器的有效性，在检测到这种生物体之前，有22人受到感染，5人死亡。 除了具有生物防御应用之外，所提出的装置还可以用于检测天然存在的感染因子或针对这种天然存在的感染因子的宿主产生的蛋白质。 制造炭疽或与炭疽一起工作的个人可能会长时间暴露于低水平的病原体，并且可能没有通过当前方法检测到的抗体水平。 这项研究第一阶段的结果将使非技术人员能够廉价和快速地检测出人类接触炭疽的低水平。 炭疽病毒的可疑传播者可以很快被甄别，以便进一步询问其背景和意图。 第二阶段将侧重于自动化，同时多种病原体检测，并将有各种应用。 所提出的装置可用于暴露于病原体的早期检测，所述病原体例如炭疽杆菌、大肠杆菌、沙门氏菌、微小隐孢子虫、肉毒梭菌等。 旅行者和移民在被允许进入一个国家之前可能会被筛查已知的病原体。 症状不明的重症患者可以迅速诊断，以最大限度地预防和恢复。 我们相信，这种相对便宜、用户友好、手持式、低容量的检测设备将在安全和医疗领域中找到多种用途。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will use a novel self-contained micro-electrochemical detection technology to measure the human protein response to specific biological agents. The end result will be an embedded computer controlled, automated, hand held device that can be used to measure protein levels down to 56 zeptomoles from a pinprick sample of whole blood in less than 30 minutes. Each detection site on the array will consist of interdigitized electrodes spaced within 100.s nm dimensions to optimize redox cycling and amplification of signal. Although this patents pending technology has been previously shown to detect a multitude of pathogens, anthrax was chosen for the Phase I work because of its suitability for use as a biological weapon. Anthrax is a naturally occurring organism with highly resistant spores that is relatively easy to grow in multitudes. Its effectiveness as a biological weapon was demonstrated when anthrax laced letters were distributed in October 2001 where 22 people were infected and 5 died before the organism could be detected. In addition to having biodefense applications, the proposed device could also be used to detect naturally occurring infectious agents or host produced proteins to such naturally occurring infectious agents. Individuals who manufacture or work with anthrax would likely be exposed to low levels of the pathogen over long periods of time and may not have antibody levels that are detectible by current methods. The results of Phase I of this study will allow non-skilled personnel to inexpensively and rapidly detect low levels of human exposure to anthrax. Suspected distributors of anthrax could be quickly screened for further questioning on background and intent. Phase II will focus on automated, simultaneous multiple pathogen detection and will have a variety of applications. The proposed device could be used in the early detection of exposure to pathogens such as Bacillus anthracis, Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Cryptosporidium parvum, Clostridium botulinum, and the like. Travelers and immigrants could be potentially screened for known pathogens before being allowed entry into a country. Gravely ill patients with nondescript symptoms could be diagnosed quickly to maximize prophylaxis and recovery. We believe that this relatively inexpensive, user-friendly, hand held, low volume detection devices will find a multitude of uses in the security and medical fields.