Compact Biological Aerosol Fluorescence Detection System

Nanohmics, LLC proposes to develop a compact fluorescence particle counter, biological aerosol detection system. The prototype instrument will combine fluorescence discrimination with aerosol counting techniques to provide a reliable warning of potential increase in biological particles inside spacecraft or space station crew environment. The proposed instrument is based on an innovative measurement strategy where all aerosol particles would be sampled but only suspicious particles interrogated by a UV/blue laser to measure fluorescence. An advantage of this conditional sampling strategy is that NASA personnel will be able to make measurements on a particle-by-particle basis to determine whether aerosols contain biological material. The result is that a small concentration of biological aerosols mixed with an abundance of non-biological particles can be detected. The instrument will exploit the autofluorescence of certain molecules contained in biological material and the size of particles to distinguish potentially harmful airborne bacteria from background aerosols. Particles detected as potential biological particles can then be collected in reagent buffer for further processing in analytical instruments for positive identification. The instrument developed in the Phase II program will support NASA's goal of developing an instrument to monitor the air quality of the spacecraft environment.