STTR Phase II: Optic Fiber Sensors for the Detection of Pathogenic Microorganisms

这个小企业技术转让研究（STTR）第二阶段项目解决了快速，可靠的仪器检测食品和环境筛选中的病原微生物的需求。所提出的系统是基于MEMS的，光纤，非本征法布里-珀罗（EFPI）生物传感器。 在第一阶段，Luna Innovations（前身为F S，Inc.）优化了用于折射率测量的EFPI传感平台，应用亲和膜来测量与特定抗体和无害蛋白质的动力学结合，并将传感器与廉价的信号调节系统集成，以实现完整的检测组合。新开发的系统能够进行成本效益高、稳健、操作简单的检测。它很容易适应于结合微流体或其他采样系统接口，从而提供折射率测量的改进，以及生物传感能力。在第二阶段，该传感系统将与微流控采样系统结合，用于演示对大肠杆菌和霍乱弧菌的蛋白质目标的简单检测，随后将扩展到在生食品和加工食品、受污染的水和土壤以及生物战剂中发现的其他高优先级病原体。该原型系统已经引起了许多公司的极大兴趣，这些公司涉及用于过程控制的折射率测量、食品工业中的目标筛选以及其他生物研究应用。 EFPI作为折射计已在牛奶加工的饮料行业以及石油和化工行业的蒸馏过程和浓度监测中得到应用。作为一种生物传感器，EFPI将在食品、环境、医疗和工业应用领域每年数十亿美元的市场中得到广泛应用。

This Small Business Technology Transfer Research (STTR) Phase II project addresses the need for rapid, reliable instrumentation for the detection of pathogenic microorganisms in food and environmental screening. The proposed system is based on MEMS-based, optical fiber, extrinsic Fabry-Perot (EFPI) biosensors. During Phase I, Luna Innovations (formerly F&S, Inc.) optimized the EFPI sensing platform for refractive index measurements, applied affinity films to measure kinetic binding with specific antibodies and non-hazardous proteins, and integrated the sensors with an inexpensive signal conditioning system for a complete detection combination. The newly developed system is capable of cost effective, robust, operationally simple detection. It is easily adapted to incorporate microfluidics or other sampling system interfaces thereby offering improvements in refractive index measurements, as well as biosensing capabilities. During Phase II, this sensing system will be incorporated with microfluidic sampling systems and used to demonstrate simpledetection of proteinacious targets of Escherichi coli and Vibrio cholerae, and will later be expanded for other high priority pathogens found in raw and processed food products, contaminated water and soil, and biological warfare agents.Anticipated Benefits/Potential Commercial Applications of the Research or Development: The prototype system has already generated tremendous interest from many companies involved in refractive index measurements for process control, target screening within the food industry, and other biological research applications. The EFPI as a refractometer has found applications within the beverage industry for milk processing, and the petroleum and chemical industry for distillation processes and concentration monitoring. As a biosensor, the EFPI will find widespread application in multibillion dollar annual markets in food, environmental, medical, and industrial applications.