IMMUNOASSAY CONJUGATES STABILIZATION FOR FIELD STORAGE CONDITIONS

A COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE BIOSENSOR INCLUDES SEVERAL PROTEIN COMPONENTS THAT ARE CRITICAL TO THE PERFORMANCE OF THE DEVICE. THESE PROTEINS ARE UNSTABLE UNLESS THEY ARE REFRIGERATED. SOME OF THE PROTEINS INVOLVED INCLUDE UREASE CONJUGATES, AS WELL AS BIOTIN, AVIDIN, AND ANTIBODIES. IF THIS TECHNOLOGY IS TO HAVE PRACTICAL USE TO THE MILITARY, IT MUST WITHSTAND EXTREME TEMPERATURES FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. STC DIAGNOSTICS PROPOSES SEVERAL METHODS TO STABILIZE THESE PROTEINS. THIS INCLUDES THE USE OF SURFACTANTS, SOLVENTS, PROTEIN STABILIZERS, ENZYME INHIBITORS, AND MICROENCAPSULATION. BY THE END OF PHASE I, ONE OR MORE METHODS TO INCREASE THE STABILITY OF THESE PROTEINS SHOULD BE ACHIEVED. PHASE II WORK WOULD THEN FOCUS ON THESE STABILIZATION METHODS AND BRING THEM INTO PRACTICAL USE.