SBIR-STTR Award

Sensera, Inc., in collaboration with U. of Central Florida, proposes to develop a rapid real-time sensor for fluorescent detection of Biological Warfare Agent (BWA) micro-organisms in water. The proposed sensor does not require the additional steps of typical heterogeneous immunoassays such as: multiple reagent additions, incubation, and washing steps. We propose two biomimetic coating platforms with their own distinctive advantages for pre-concentrating BWAs, as well as providing an environment conducive to bio-recognition. These platforms are such that their physicochemical properties can be easily and systematically tuned for optimum binding and signal generation. Commercial fluorophores - as well as fluorophores developed in our laboratories - that possess much higher photo-stabilities and fluorescence quantum yields will be used as probes. The resulting sensors will feature reduced leaching of the probe into the biological medium, alleviating toxicity and contamination concerns, and assuring intimate interaction between the BWAs and the probes. In Phase I, we will develop a fluorescent polymerized biomimetic filter coating for the detection of a model BWA simulant. Phase II will be devoted to developing this membrane platform for the detection of multiple BWAs, designing and constructing the fluidics hardware, and the complete characterization of the resulting sensors. The proposed rapid biosensor will find commercial application in real-time monitoring of water reservoirs, livestock and crops. Other commercial applications include: food-quality monitoring and sensors for the personal security industry

Sensera Inc., in collaboration with the University of Central Florida (UCF), proposes to build sensor filters with fluorescent detection for the preconcentration and detection of Biological Warfare Agents (BWAs). These filter-based detection systems allow for continuous monitoring of BWAs in reservoirs, lakes and rivers. During Phase I, Sensera and UCF developed and demonstrated two sensor filter membranes that change fluorescent signals in the presence of BWA simulants without the need of user intervention. In Phase II, the team will further optimize the filter membranes and incorporate them as an array in an actual filter housing. A prototype detection device for both filter types will be built, and the arrays will be characterized for their detection limit, response time, reproducibility, cross reactivity and response to interferents. Software to decode the array signals and indicate the presence of agents will also be configured. Live agent testing will be performed at Battelle for final verification of the sensor prototype. The proposed detection system can be adapted to many commercial applications, such as: environmental and water-quality monitoring; food-quality monitoring; viral and bacterial pathogens detection for medical diagnostics; and hazardous material emergency response units.

Keywords:
biological warfare agents, filter concentration, fluorescent sensing, polymer coatings, biosensors