Ultra-Sensitive Portable Biotoxin Sensor

This Phase I STTR project addresses the development of a biotoxin sensor with high sensitivity and specificity based on our preliminary study. We have identified a highly sensitive fluorophore-quencher pair based on a fluorescent molecular wire polymer in order to amplify the detection signal. The conductive fluorescent polymer and the protein substrate specific towards botulinum toxin type B having a pendant quencher group have been successfully synthesized in our laboratory. Field/laboratory application of this assay would require specific detection of the different serotypes of the toxin with high sensitivity. Therefore, the different protein substrates will be modeled and synthesized during this effort, which will be continued in Phase II towards optimization of the assay in a buffer solution and its expansion to a variety of matrices such as milk, human serum spiked with the toxin. We are currently interacting with interested parties in the industry for the purpose of commercializing the technology.