Development of a photothermal non-invasive in-vehicle alcohol detection biosensor

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The development and application of a mid-infrared (MIR) two-wavelength laser-based biosensor (named Wavelength-Modulated Differential Photothermal Radiometry, WM-DPTR) is proposed as a fast, noninvasive all optical blood alcohol diagnostic monitor for use in the fight against drunk driving in Canada and potentially world-wide, in collaboration with our industrial partner, Alcohol Countermeasure Systems (ACS), Etobicoke, ON. Our previous research using a skin-glucose-blood serum phantom diffused into skin demonstrated that WM-DPTR has the highest sensitivity to glucose amongst noninvasive techniques to-date. Preliminary testing of WM-DPTR with a similar skin-ethanol-blood serum phantom configuration showed that similar performance should be expected in the case of ethanol. Project goal is to develop a laboratory prototype of an in-vehicle WM-DPTR alcohol interlock system. A major part of this CRD Proposal is to replace the commercial two-quantum cascade laser (QCL)-module in the biosensor with one-laser-module for substantial price decrease at commercial-level (~ 500) quantities. ACS is also collaborating with the University of Waterloo for the development of inexpensive (~$500) and compact mid-IR lasers for supporting the commercialization of WM-DPTR technology. Specific goals of the proposed research are A) to perform detailed quantitative studies of the sensitivity and specificity of the biosensor-to-be-assembled to the presence of ethyl alcohol in water and blood serum solutions, as well as with ethanol diffused in human skin samples simulating interstitial fluid detection, in the range of human blood alcohol concentration (0 - 200 mg/dl); B) to simplify sensor design by replacing two QCL lasers with one; and C) to test the biosensor on human volunteers. The dimensions of the proposed portable pre-prototype system will be: a handheld probe 6"x2"x2" which includes the laser head, the MIR detector and optics; and an electrical control unit (ECU) 6"x6"x2" under the vehicle dashboard. These dimensions are compatible with current ACS in-vehicle electrochemical sensor interlocks.