Minature Biological Detector Using On-Chip Eletrostatic Spray Separation

Recent developments in the world political arena have led to The need for miniaturized instrumentation for rapid characterization of micro-organisms and toxins to protect military and civilian personnel against biological weapons and to allow timely administration of prophylactics. Considerable effort is currently underway to develop polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays with automated sample preparation. Although centrifugation and immunomagnetic particle methods of sample preparation have been evaluated, the need for sample separation prior to PCR on unattended biological detectors remains unanswered. This proposal suggests the use of electrostatic spray injection as a means of sample preparation prior to PCR methods of analysis. The innovation of the proposed sensor system is the combination of charge-based and mass-based separation operations within a micromachined flow manifold to provide a detector having unparalleled sensitivity to micro-organisms and toxins. The Phase I Technical Objectives include design and fabrication of a laboratory electrostatic spray system, evaluation of the efficiency of electrostatic particle separation and acquisition of families of test data for use in optimization of a proof-of-concept prototype system. In Phase II, test procedures will be automated and the sensor will be miniaturized for use at an Army facility.