Extending the Life of Biosensors with Dendrimers

Echo Technologies, Inc. (ETI) is developing optical biosensors for detection and discrimination of biological warfare agents (BWAs). The sensors incorporate molecular recognition and fluorescent reporter molecules that are chosen to uniquely detect classes of biological material such as bacteria, spores, toxins and viruses. ETI has recently completed a Phase I program that demonstrated the feasibility of using large, globular polymer molecules, known as dendrimers, to enhance sensor performance. The Phase I results were promising with the following accomplishments: • > 4-fold increase in sensor operational lifetime under various conditions • > 2-fold increase in sensor storage stability • extension of the technology to sensors for monitoring waterborne agents. In Phase II the dendrimer-enhanced biosensors will be more fully characterized and the approach extended to biosensors for other BWAs. The fundamental mechanism responsible for this enhanced performance will be studied to allow rational selection or design of optimum dendrimer molecules for use with the sensors. Sensor improvements will be quantified, and an integrated system demonstrated for the Sponsor.