Carbon Nanotube Sensor Array for Sensitive Detection of Mercury Poisoning

描述（由申请方提供）：汞（Hg）由于其毒性和通过食物链的生物累积性，已被公认为对人类健康具有严重影响。汞暴露量增加会影响人体的肝脏、肾脏、心血管、胃肠道和神经系统。无机汞（Hg 2+）可导致慢性肾脏病（CKD）和肾衰竭。甲基汞（CH 3 Hg+）是汞的一种有机形式，对生命系统具有高度毒性。CH 3 Hg+会导致神经系统损伤，导致协调、麻木和视力障碍问题。CH 3 Hg+中毒的死亡通常发生在第一次症状出现后2-4天。因此，CH 3 Hg+和Hg 2+离子的检测对人体健康具有重要意义。目前，还没有简单的现场护理（POC）系统来检测这些毒素。为了满足这一需求，InnoSense LLC（ISL）的目标是开发一种基于碳纳米管的MerSense”测定法，用于具有高灵敏度和选择性的CH 3 Hg+和Hg 2+离子的成本效益、POC检测。第一阶段项目的目的是确定MerSense传感器阵列可以准确检测人工尿样中的CH 3 Hg+和Hg 2+离子。在第一阶段，ISL将制造和测试MerSense传感器阵列，用于检测人造尿液中CH 3 Hg+和Hg 2+（d2 ppb）的痕量水平。ISL还将评估MerSense的性能，并证明其灵敏度、选择性、准确性、可靠性、再现性和实时传感能力。成功开发ISL的MerSense并展示其更高的汞检测性能将带来广泛的社会经济效益：（1）一种简单且具有成本效益的POC测试，用于改善诊所、医院、私人执业机构和实验室中的患者护理，（2）一种用于制药和生物技术药物发现和临床试验研究的伴随诊断工具，（3）一种用于科学界的新研究工具，（4）对采矿业中的尾矿池和径流进行具有成本效益的有毒汞污染分析，（5）由州和联邦机构以及人道主义组织测试和监测饮用水质量，以及（6）在汞迁移到食物（空气、水和土壤）以及金属加工、化学制造和电子工业时对痕量汞进行检测。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Mercury (Hg) has been recognized as having serious impacts on human health due to its toxicity and bioaccumulation via the food chain. Elevated exposure to Hg can affect the liver, kidneys, and cardiovascular, gastro-intestinal, and neurological systems of the human body. Inorganic Hg (Hg2+) can cause chronic kidney disease (CKD) and kidney failure. Methylmercury (CH3Hg+), an organic form of Hg, is highly toxic to living systems. CH3Hg+ causes nervous system damage leading to problems with coordination, numbness, and visual impairment. Death from CH3Hg+ poisoning usually occurs 2-4 days after the first symptoms occur. Therefore, detecting CH3Hg+ and Hg2+ ions is highly important to human health. Currently, there is no simple, point of care (POC) system for detecting these toxins. To meet this need, InnoSense LLC (ISL) aims to develop a carbon nanotube-based MerSense" assay for cost-effective, POC detection of CH3Hg+ and Hg2+ ions with high sensitivity and selectivity. The purpose of the Phase I project is to establish that a MerSense sensor array can accurately detect CH3Hg+ and Hg2+ ions in artificial urine samples. In Phase I, ISL will fabricate and test the MerSense sensor array for detecting trace levels of CH3Hg+ and Hg2+ (d2 ppb) in artificial urine. ISL will also evaluate MerSense performance and demonstrate the sensitivity, selectivity, accuracy, reliability, reproducibility, and real-time sensing capability. Successful development of ISL's MerSense and demonstration of its enhanced performance for Hg detection will have widespread socioeconomic benefits: (1) a simple and cost-effective POC test for improved patient care in clinics, hospitals, private-practice facilities and laboratories, (2) a companion diagnostic tool for pharma and biotech drug discovery and clinical trial research, (3) a new research tool for the scientific community, (4) cost-effective analysis of tailing ponds and run-off in the mining industry for toxic Hg contamination, (5) testing and monitoring drinking water quality by State and Federal agencies, and humanitarian organizations, and (6) trace level detection of Hg at the point of migration to food (air, water and soil) as well as in metal processing, chemical manufacturing and electronics industries.