Fluorescent Liposomes for Detection of Biological Warfare Agent Toxins in Water

"Reliable and sensitive detection of potential biowarfare agent (BWA) toxins such as botulinum toxin, staphylococcal enterotoxin, saxitoxin, etc., is an important challenge during both military operations and for domestic anti-terrorism efforts. We proposeto develop biomimetic polymerized liposomes/antibody conjugates that will detect toxins in aqueous samples, and will be integrated into a portable fluorescence detection device. The integrated device will allow rapid and easy parallel testing of solutionsamples (i.e. from swab testing) for multiple BWA toxins. When the toxins bind to the antibodies the liposomes will become fluorescent; the liposomes can be readily formulated with different antibodies targeting different toxin targets and presented in amultiplex format for parallel screening. In Phase I we will prepare liposomes with antibodies to ovalbumin as a toxin simulant and design the detection unit. We will develop the antibody manipulation techniques for preparing the functionalizedliposomes and demonstrate proof-of-concept for detection, including control experiments. In Phase II we will prepare separate liposome formulations with antibodies to a variety of BWA toxins incorporated, build a prototype detection unit, and use theseto screen samples for multiple targets. An easy-to-use rapid portable detection system that can be used by both combat support units and first responders for early warning of attacks with biological warfare agents and post-attack forensic purposes. Thistechnology will also have significant dual-use applications in other areas of protein detection such as food safety, diagnostics, drug discovery, and environmental testing."