Rapid Pesticide Exposure Analysis Using Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

描述(由申请人提供) 提出了一种廉价的一次性传感元件，可用作蒸汽暴露监测器或用于尿液分析，用于实时监测农药暴露。这种传感器与电池供电的读取器相结合，是NIH暴露生物学计划的直接需求，也有可能检测其他暴露。该传感器基于表面增强拉曼光谱(SERS)，它允许精确检测强烈吸附到粗糙的SERS传感器上的化学物质，如杀虫剂，进入高ppt范围。SERS传感器是气相沉积的金膜，随后进行电化学粗化，制作成本低，可在宽湿度范围内的气相和溶液中工作。由于传感器被调谐到感兴趣的分析物，所以来自浓度更高的化学物质的干扰是有限的。在这个项目中，SERS传感器将作为徽章佩戴，通过不可逆地结合接触到SERS传感器的任何农药来监测和量化工人每天接触的农药。这些传感器还将测量尿液中的农药代谢物，为NIH提供更多关于每日接触/每日摄入杀虫剂的数据。SERS传感器将使用电池供电的拉曼仪器读取，该仪器带有带键的采样室，确保SERS传感元件自动对准系统。紧凑的系统将是完全自动化的，并将光谱库与化学计量学分析相结合。任何检测到的杀虫剂的鉴定和量化都将报告给现场技术人员。一个阅读器可用于对数百名参与者进行评估。 这项技术的核心概念已经得到开发和演示。文献结果表明，SERS检测有机氯农药，EIC实验室已在气相和水相中检测到有机磷农药。EIC实验室已经展示了现场检测微量爆炸物的能力。为期两年的第一阶段计划旨在扩大研究的农药范围，证明检测达到CDC列出的极限，展示SERS传感元件足够的可用场寿命，设计可现场读取器，执行详细的干扰分析，并证明尿液基质中的变化不会影响SERS测量精度。商业：EIC实验室将通过制造SERS传感器和电池供电的拉曼读取器将该技术商业化。这些组件将通过Photonics进行商业销售，Photonics是一家共同所有的附属公司。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant) An inexpensive disposable sensing element that is worn as a vapor exposure monitor or used for urinalysis is proposed for real-time monitoring of pesticide exposure. This sensor, coupled to a battery operated reader, is a direct need for the NIH Exposure Biology Program and has the potential for detect other exposures as well. The sensor is based on Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS), which allows precise detection of chemicals that adsorb strongly to roughened SERS sensors, like pesticides, into the high ppt range. The SERS sensors, vapor deposited gold films with subsequent electrochemical roughening, are inexpensive to make, operate in vapor phase under a wide humidity range and in solution. As the sensors are tuned to the analytes of interest, interferences from more concentrated chemicals is limited. In this program, the SERS sensors would be worn as badges to monitor and quantify daily pesticide exposure to a worker by irreversibly binding any pesticide that comes in contact with the SERS sensor. The sensors would also measure pesticide metabolites in urine, providing the NIH with more data on the daily exposure/daily ingestion of pesticides. The SERS sensors will be read using a battery operated Raman instrument with keyed sampling chamber that ensures the SERS sensing elements are automatically aligned into the system. The compact system would be fully automated and incorporate a spectral library with chemometric analysis. Identification and quantification of any detected pesticides would be reported to the field technician. A single reader can be used for evaluation of hundreds of participants. The core concepts of this technology have been developed and demonstrated. Literature results show SERS detection of organochlorine pesticides and EIC Laboratories has detected organophosphate pesticides in vapor and aqueous phases. Field detection of trace levels of explosives has been demonstrated by EIC Laboratories. The two year Phase I program is designed to expand the pesticides studied, demonstrate detection to CDC listed limits, show an adequate usable field lifetime for the SERS sensing elements, design a fieldable reader, perform a detailed interferences analysis and demonstrate that variances in the urine matrix will not affect the SERS measurement precision. Commercial: EIC Laboratories will commercialize the technology by manufacturing the SERS sensors and battery operated Raman readers. The components will be sold commercially through In Photonics, an affiliated company under common ownership.