Whispering Gallery Mode Resonator Biosensor for Bioterrorist and Biowarfare Agent Detection

Agave BioSystems, in collaboration with Dr. Robert Boyd, of the Institute of Optics at the University of Rochester, proposes to develop an ultra sensitive and highly specific biosensor based on whispering gallery mode (WGM) resonator technology forbioterrorist and biowarfare agent detection. This novel biosensor would couple the specificity of antibody detection with the increased sensitivity of WGM resonator technology. Simulations have demonstrated that WGM resonator technology can provide atleast an order of magnitude greater sensitivity as compared to current detection mechanisms such as SPR. The signal generated by this system provides a straightforward intensity reading allowing for use with simple and inexpensive instrumentation. Themicrofabrication of this detection mechanism, coupled with microfluidic systems to be developed in the Phase II, will result in a disposable biochip that can be readily used in a small, compact and portable instrument. As a result of the successfulcompletion of both the Phase I and Phase II programs, Agave BioSystems will have established the core technology to produce highly specific and sensitive pathogen detection instrumentation based on Whispering Gallery Mode disk resonators. These trulyinnovative instruments will be small and inexpensive, combining advances in solid-state optics and microfabrication with classical microbiology. Significant commercial opportunities exist for the economical and accurate detection of biowarfare, food-borne,and environmental pathogens as well as in diagnostic markets such as medical, veterinary, agricultural and point-of-care.