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Dendrimer Coated Long-Period-Grating (LPG) Biosensor

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Navy
Contract: M67854-03-C-6039
Agency Tracking Number: N031-0635
Amount: $69,978.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: N/A
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: N/A
Award Year: 2003
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): N/A
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
2851 Commerce Street
Blacksburg, VA 24060
United States
DUNS: N/A
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Charles Pennington
 Principal Investigator
 (540) 953-4262
 penningtonc@lunainnovations.com
Business Contact
 Garnett Linkous
Title: Chief Administrative Offi
Phone: (540) 953-4274
Email: linkousg@lunainnovations.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

The detection of Biological Warfare agents (BW) is typically conducted using antibody-based techniques. DNA aptomer-based Long Period Grating (LPG) sensors provide the specificity to accurately distinguish the target from potential interference that wouldproduce false positive results. Stability is always a main concern for asensor-based detection platform. Methods to improve sensor stability have focused on using detergents, salts, protein, and pH. Luna proposes to use dendrimer coating based biosensors to improve stability of BW detectors. This new class of highly brancheddendritic macromolecules (dendrimers) has gained attention and is being used to increase the solubility of drugs, produce DNA biosensors, and deliver oligonucleotides to cells. Advantages of dendrimers include structural homogeneity, internal porosity,controllable composition, and multiple homogeneous chain ends. The goal of the proposed program is to enhance the aptomer sensor performance by utilizing dendrimers. Through corporate partnerships and government programs, Luna has successfully demonstrated the detection of protein-protein, DNA-DNA, and DNA-protein interactions with the LPG technology. Improvements in biosensor stability will result in systems thatwill meet requirements that currently are lacking in BW biosensors.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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