Novel Reagents and Devices for the Rapid Detection of Fire Retardant Chemicals.

描述(由申请人提供)：为了满足该机构对新出现的污染物，如阻燃剂多溴二苯醚的快速、准确和现场测量的要求，必须开发关键技术，在混合试剂和检测目标时，产生信号，而不需要现有方法所需的洗涤和分离步骤。该项目的目标是为BDE-47开发创新的荧光试剂和现场可部署的设备，因为荧光是最灵敏的检测方法之一，而BDE-47是广泛分布的多溴二苯醚的同系物。目前对多溴二苯醚的检测方法主要是GC/LC/MS和ELISA试剂盒。它们需要多个步骤，需要熟练的操作员，繁琐，昂贵，不适合现场使用。我们计划通过设计和验证几种均相免疫分析来实现这一目标，这些均一免疫分析在BDE-47存在的情况下产生同时变化的荧光强度。具体地说，我们计划为不需要高灵敏度(&gt；ppb)的应用程序确定竞争性形式的示踪剂抗原。对于需要更高灵敏度(&lt；ppb)的应用，我们计划使用与BDE-47/抗体免疫复合物结合的新型小环肽来开发灵敏的三明治分析方法。设计和制造便携式荧光读取器具有轻松采集样本和无线数据采集实时数据的能力，这在项目交付范围内。另一种可供选择的交付内容包括为BDE-47制造和测试的快速试纸测试设备。 与公众健康相关：多溴二苯醚(PBDEs)是一种常见的阻燃剂，用于降低床垫、家具、家用电器、纺织品和儿童玩具等各种产品的火灾风险。虽然多溴二苯醚是优秀的阻燃剂，但它们通过受污染的空气、水和食物进入我们的体内。它们在人类乳汁、血清和脂肪组织中生物积累。科学研究得出结论，经常接触这些化学物质，即使水平很低，也可能对神经系统和生殖系统造成不可挽回的损害，并扰乱雌激素和甲状腺激素等激素。在美国，成年人体内的多溴二苯醚浓度是欧洲或日本的1-3ppb水平的10-100倍。一些研究发现，儿童体内低溴多溴联苯醚的浓度是成年人的2-5倍。一些人预测，多溴二苯醚的体内浓度将呈指数级增长，每4至5年翻一番。鉴于它在我们日常生活中的广泛使用，有效的控制和消除将是一个漫长而具有挑战性的过程。我们认为，快速和准确的监测必须是任何控制程序或法规不可或缺的一部分。现有的检测方法需要有经验的操作人员且耗时长，因此繁琐、昂贵，不适合现场使用。该项目建议通过使用最先进的检测技术来弥合这一差距，以制造可现场部署的便携式设备，以便在人体和环境中进行快速和精确的测量。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): To meet the Agency's requirement for rapid, precise and on-site measurement of emerging contaminants such as fire retardant chemical PBDEs, critical technologies must be developed where upon mixing a reagent and a detection target, a signal is generated without the need of washing and separation steps required by existing methods. The objective of this project is to develop innovative fluorescent reagents and field- deployable devices for BDE-47 because fluorescence is among the most sensitive detection method, and BDE-47 is a wide spread congener of PBDEs. Current testing methods for PBDEs are predominantly GC/LC/MS and ELISA kits. They take multiple steps and require skilled operators, are tedious, expensive, and not suitable for field use. We plan to accomplish this objective by designing and validating several homogenous immunoassays which produce a concurrent change in fluorescence intensity in the presence of BDE-47. Specifically, we plan to identify tracer antigens for competitive format for applications that do not require high sensitivity (> ppb). For applications that require higher sensitivity (< ppb), we plan to use novel small cyclic peptides that bind to the BDE-47/antibody immunocomplex to develop sensitive sandwich assays It is within project deliverable to design and build portable fluorescence readers with easy sample collection and with wireless data capability for real-time data collection. An alternative deliverable includes rapid dipstick testing devices to be fabricated and tested for BDE-47. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are common flame retardants used to reduce the risk of fire in a wide variety of products, such as mattresses, furniture, home electronics, textiles and children's toys. While they are excellent flame retardants, PBDEs enter our body through contaminated air, water and food supply. They bioaccumulate in human milk, serum and fat tissues. Scientific studies have concluded that regular exposure to even low levels of these chemicals may irreparably damage the nervous and reproductive systems, and disrupt hormones such as estrogen and thyroid hormones. In United States, PBDE concentrations in adults are 10-100 times higher than the 1-3 ppb levels found in Europe or Japan. Some studies have found concentrations of the lower-brominated PBDEs were 2- to 5-fold higher in children than in adults. Some predict PBDE body concentrations to exponentially increase doubling every 4 to 5 years. Given its wide spread use in our daily lives, effective control and elimination will be a long and challenging process. We believe that rapid and precise monitoring must be an integral part of any control program or regulation. Existing detection methods require experienced operators and take a long time, are therefore tedious, expensive, not suitable for field use. This project proposes to bridge this gap by using the state-of-the-art detection technologies to make portable devices that are field-deployable for rapid and precise measurement in humans as well as in environment.