SBIR Phase I: A versatile valveless mutlichannel parallel bioassay system

这个小企业创新研究第一阶段的研究项目将开发一个多功能的高通量生物测定系统。拟议中的系统将建立在一项正在申请专利的生物传感技术上，该技术已获得阿肯色州大学的独家许可。利用这项技术，该公司已经在快速、灵敏地检测食源性病原体、蛋白质生物标志物和农药残留方面取得了可喜的初步成果。第一阶段的研究将集中在增加样品的吞吐量，减少交叉污染，并通过开发一个无阀的多通道并行生物测定系统简化操作。拟议的系统将包括一个自动化的样品/试剂输送模块，一个易于更换的多通道生物传感器盒，和一个接口，提供对盒光学检测。大肠杆菌O 157：H7是最常见和最危险的食源性病原体之一，将被用作可行性研究的模型目标。致病菌对食品的微生物污染仍然是我们社会的主要关注点。食源性疾病每年影响数百万美国人，食品生产商必须及时对其产品进行病原体检测。虽然传统的培养方法假设允许检测特定病原体的单个细胞，但它们非常耗时，通常需要至少24小时和复杂的多个步骤来确认分析。它们还需要实验室设置和熟练的人员。快速检测食品病原体和其他重要病原体的需求对高通量生物检测提出了挑战。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I research project will develop a versatile high throughput bioassay system. The proposed system will be built on a patent-pending biosensing technology that has been exclusively licensed from the University of Arkansas. Using this technology, the company has obtained promising preliminary results for rapid and sensitive detection of food-borne pathogens, protein biomarkers, and pesticide residues. The Phase I research will focus on increasing sample throughput, reducing cross-contamination, and simplifying operation by developing a valveless mutichannel parallel bioassay system. The proposed system will consist of an automated sample/reagent delivery module, an easy-to-change multichannel biosensor cartridge, and an interface providing on-cartridge optical detection. Escherichia coli O157:H7, one of the most common and dangerous food-borne pathogens, will be used as the model target for the feasibility study. Microbial contamination of food products by pathogenic bacteria remains a major concern of our society. Food-borne illness affects millions of Americans each year and food producers are required to test their products for pathogens in a timely manner. Although conventional culture methods hypothetically allow the detection of a single cell of specific pathogens, they are extremely time-consuming, typically requiring at least 24 hours and complicated multi-steps to confirm the analysis. They also require laboratory setup and skilled personnel. The need of rapid detection of food pathogens and other important agents has posed a challenge for high throughput bioassays.