Microorganism Imprinted Polymers (MIOPs) for Detection of Biological Warfare Agents

There is an immediate need for real-time sensitive and selective detection of biological warfare agents (BWA) in air or water. Essential components of developmental biological and chemical sensors are the molecular receptors or recognition elements.Molecular imprinting of polymers has been used with promising results to create artificial chemical receptors. Echo Technologies, Inc. proposes to demonstrate Microorganism Imprinted Polymers (MOIPs) as robust, artificial receptors for capture anddetection of biological agents. Molecularly imprinted polymers have been demonstrated as chemical receptors in the laboratory but application to biological recognition and sensing is a new approach. When incorporated into biosensors under development fordetection of air- and water-borne BWAs the MOIPs will greatly improve the capture efficiency, sensitivity, and selectivity of the sensors. Another key advantage is that the recognition event is fully reversible. In Phase I MOIP biosensors will bedeveloped for detection of bacteria and bacterial spores. This technology is readily extended to include detection of viruses and biological toxins. In Phase II the recognition elements will be incorporated into a biosensor array already under developmentat ETI for monitoring airborne BWAs. A prototype BWA detection system will be fabricated and tested in the laboratory and at an extramural facility. MOIPs offer robustness not realized in DNA or antibody based biosensors. Compared to receptors currentlyused by ETI MOIPs will provide enhanced capture efficiency and selectivity. In military and homeland security sector, the bacterial MOIPs could be used as the sensor recognition elements in handheld or point sensors for real-time detection of BWAs. Thesensors can also be applied to monitoring water and food sources in host nations. Commercially the biosensors can be used in air and water filtration units for stored, distributed and natural water supplies. MOIPs for bacteria and viruses could be couldbe incorporated into HVAC systems to ensure safety of public buildings and other venues.