SBIR-STTR Award

Our objective is to determine the feasibility of applying our fiber optic microsensor to receptor-based assay in the field. Our microsensor senses only within the sub wavelength thin evanescent zone on the wall of an optical fiber. It is being applied to fluoroimmunoassay for both military and commercial applications. The associated instrument has the potential of being miniaturized (pocket size), modular, battery operated, and used for both immunoassays and receptor-based assays. The wavelength used will be long, to better accommodate the large molecular structure of receptor-based assay. The effort will include an optimization analysis and the construction of a breadboard as defined by the analysis. To the best of our knowledge, this breadboard will be the first fluorimeter ever to use an led as the light source. The breadboard performance will be evaluated with respect to the field requirements. We will analyze the feasibility of a field unit for receptor-base assay.

A unique opportunity now exists to provide an inexpensive, rapid, fieldable, miniature receptor-based biosensor system whose sensitivity is limited only by biochemical factors, e.g. The receptor's specific binding capability. A combination of four accomplishments makes success very likely. First, crdec demonstrated the feasibility of a receptor-based "fiber-optic evanescent-wave" (fe) biosensor for toxin detection. Second, the sensitivity achieved in phase i by ord's fe optical transducer established that assay sensitivity will be limited only by biochemical factors. Third, the successful development of a first generation pocket size fe instrument (internally funded by ord), demonstrated the feasibility of system miniaturization. Fourth, ord recently developed novel and proprietary components and materials which enables the development of an inexpensive and rugged fe field instrument. We therefore propose that ord develop a prototype rapid, sensitive, second generation pocket size field instrument and be responsible for system integration. This prototype will be delivered to crdec. Allied-signal incorporated will develop and evaluate receptor-based assays for toxin detection using ord's optical fibers and fe optical transducer. Receptor coated fibers will also be delivered. We expected the proposed program to lead to a practical, miniature, receptor-based biosensor system.

Keywords:
FIBER OPTICS DETECTORS RECEIVERS ASSAYING MICROANALYSIS OPTICAL FIBERS OPTIMIZATION MICROSENSOR REC