Portable System for Rapid Detection of Toxins

描述（由申请人提供）：提议的目标是开发一种生物传感器，用于快速，现场测量化学环境污染物。创新的关键是使用光栅耦合表面等离子体共振（GCSPR）换能器与微阵列换能器芯片和成像CCD探测器相结合，实现一个能够在小型便携式，坚固耐用，低成本的封装中对许多分析物进行高灵敏度的高度多路检测的系统，适合由受过最低培训的人员现场使用。提出的设备将解决目前现场环境分析技术的两个最重要的缺点；也就是说，当前系统仅限于检测单一分析物或一类密切相关的化合物，以及现场分析的有限灵敏度和准确性。此外，我们期望拟议的系统将大大提高这些检测在现场进行的便利性和速度。第一阶段的目标是建立一个GCSPR成像系统的面包板原型，以评估其多路检测的可行性，并通过使用多环芳烃（PAH）作为分析物模型系统的原型分析来演示该系统的操作。潜在的应用包括环境测试、临床诊断、国土防御应用和生命科学研究市场。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The goal of the proposed effort is to develop a biosensor for rapid, on-site measurement of chemical environmental contaminants. The crux of the innovation is to use grating-coupled surface plasmon resonance (GCSPR) transduction in conjunction with a microarray transducer chip and an imaging CCD detector to implement a system capable of highly multiplexed detection of many analytes with high sensitivity in a small portable, rugged, low-cost package suitable for field use by minimally trained personnel. The proposed device will solve two of the most important shortcomings of present technology for field environmental analysis; namely, the limitation of current systems to the detection of a single analyte or a single class of closely related compounds, and the limited sensitivity and accuracy of field assays. In addition, we expect that the proposed system will materially increase the ease and speed with which these assays can be performed in the field. The objectives of the Phase I effort are to build a breadboard prototype of a GCSPR imaging system to assess its feasibility for multiplexed detection, and to demonstrate the operation of the system with a prototype assay using polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) as an analyte model system. Potential applications include environmental testing, clinical diagnostics, homeland defense applications and the life sciences research market.