Rapid, Miniaturized Sensors to Detect Environmenal Toxin

微型生物传感器可以使毒理学项目以高通量和潜在的更高灵敏度进行测定。生物传感器项目旨在将毒理学项目中开发的生物测定方法应用于可用的生物传感器。该项目将有一个基本的方面，和一个应用方面，我们打算实施这些测定。基础方面将研究新的纳米尺度的生物材料 标记，特别是应用于免疫测定。已发现长寿命纳米级磷光体特别适用于在免疫测定中标记半抗原、分析物或抗体。我们将重点关注镧系元素的使用，特别是铕，以及可以通过使用诸如氧化铽的材料提供的其他波长。我们还将研究一种在微滴中进行免疫测定的新形式。样品 我们的光漂白标记物可以在很长时间内对含有皮科升的样品进行检测，在检测中有可能接近单分子检测极限。该项目更实际的方面将涉及在芯片上的微型生物传感器中实施现有的测定。我们将利用微加工技术在芯片上制作微通道，在其中进行免疫测定。我们将利用铟锡 氧化物（ITO）薄膜作为波导和电极，以操纵纳米颗粒标记和通道中的抗体。我们将使用通道内的粒子标记的瞬逝检测，并使用静电场来增强与抗体的结合，并可能在通道内再生抗体。我们还将努力改进土壤取样的DNA检测。这将有助于项目1对土壤中消耗毒素的细菌进行测量。生物传感器项目将对戴奥辛进行体外分析，供Denison博士的项目使用，并将与Lasley博士的项目合作，对生殖健康标志物进行小型化、便携式生物传感器。

Miniaturized biosensors can enable the toxicology projects to undertake their assays with high throughput and potentially with greater sensitivity. The Biosensor project aims to implement those bio assays that have been developed in the toxicology projects into usable biosensors. The project will have a fundamental aspect, and an applied aspect in which we intend to implement these assays. The fundamental aspects will investigate new nano scale materials for bio labeling, particularly with application to immunoassays. Long lifetime nano scale phosphors have been found to be particularly useful for labeling haptens, analytes, or antibodies in an immunoassay. We will focus on the use of the lanthanide elements, in particular europium, and also other wavelengths that can be offered by the use of materials such as terbium oxide. We shall also investigate a novel format for carrying out immunoassays in a micro droplet. Samples that contain pico liters can be interrogated for very long times with our photobleaching labels, with the potential for approaching single molecule detection limits in assays. The more practical aspect of the project will be concerned with implementing existing assays in miniaturized biosensors on a chip. We shall make use of micro fabrication techniques to make micro channels on a chip in which we shall carry out the immunoassays. We shall make use of indium tin oxide (ITO) films as waveguides and as electrodes to manipulate nanoparticles labels and antibodies in channels. We shall use evanescent detection of the particle labels within the channel, and use an electrostatic field to enhance binding to antibodies, and potentially to regenerate antibodies within the channel. We shall also attempt to improve the detection of DNA for sampling in soils. This will assist Project 1 in undertaking their measurements of toxin-consuming bacteria within soils. The Biosensor project will implement an in vitro assay for dioxin for use in Dr. Denison's project and will work with Dr. Lasley's project to implement a miniaturized, portable biosensor for markers of reproductive health.