SBIR Phase I: Optical Enzymatic Biosensor for Real-Time, Continuous, In-Situ Measurements of Trichloroethene

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project proposes to develop a cell-free optical enzymatic biosensor for monitoring trichloroethene (TCE) concentrations in water. The biosensing concept will be implemented in an optical fiber format, in which optical biosensor tips are linked to a small electro-optical unit. Chemical detection takes place on biosensor tips that are coated with enzymes and fluorescent chemicals. In preliminary experiments, sensors using whole cells containing the desired enzymes were shown to measure TCE concentrations. However, those whole-cell sensors had limitations with respect to their detection limits and manufacturability. Thus, the research objectives of this project are to develop a cell-free version of this biosensor by extracting the necessary multicomponent enzyme and incorporating the enzyme onto the biosensor tips. Attainment of these objectives will advance the TCE-sensing technology toward a robust and readily manufactured system for TCE monitoring with improved detection limits, increased accuracy, and reliability. The broader impact/commercial potential of this project, if successful, will be to increase the efficiency of identifying, mapping, and remediating water sources contaminated with TCE. Water use has been growing at more than twice the population rate. Both water quantity and water quality are becoming dominant issues in many countries. The necessity of monitoring aqueous-phase TCE concentrations will continue for many generations due to its widespread occurrence in water sources, its toxicity, and its high stability. A significant need exists and will continue to rise worldwide for devices that can measure the concentration of TCE as well as other chlorinated organic chemicals in water, and that can do so rapidly, accurately, and inexpensively. Continuous in-situ data production in the field of environmental sensing will greatly increase efficiency in all processes that require a measurement of TCE concentration. This sensor will allow for continuous monitoring of possible contamination sources in the case of a contamination event. Also, it will afford facile depth and spatial profiling of TCE plumes in aquifers. This technology will replace the current chromatography-based measurement protocols, which are not readily adapted for in-situ, on-line, or in-the-field measurements, and cannot produce data continuously.