Multi-Analyte Immunomagnetic Biosensor using Near-Infrared Phase Resolved Fluorescence Spectroscopy (PRFS)

Systems & Processes Engineering Corp. (SPEC) proposes to develop a compact, low-cost multi-analyte immunomagnetic biosensor system for rapid, selective, and sensitive detection and identification of several individual viruses and toxins simultaneously in a biotoxoid mixture. The proposed biosensing system will incorporate the following SPEC developed technologies: (1) Low-Cost Phase Resolved Fluorescence Spectroscopy (PRFS) Technology; (2) Lifetime Chemometric Extraction Algorithms; (3) Phage Epitope and DNA Probe Technology; and (4) Low-Cost Near-Infrared (NIR) Fluorescent Dye Technology. Implementation of these SPEC technologies will provide improved portability, sensitivity and detection capabilities over current immunomagnetic sensor systems. Working with Dr. J. P. Chambers of the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), SPEC will ligate near-infrared dyes to novel biological recognition molecules. SPEC will work with AF and DoD sponsors to determine the biological recognition molecules of interest. The Phase I program will result in a NIR-PRFS Multi-Analyte Immunomagnetic Biosensor design and laboratory demonstration. Additionally, novel biological recognition molecules will be developed and ligated with NIR dyes. In Phase II, a prototype of this Biosensor system will be developed, tested and delivered to the AF for field evaluation.