Fluorescent Qdot-Lateral Flow Test Strips for Rapid Ultrasensitive On-site Biotoxin Detection

Nanohmics, Inc. proposes to continue its successful development of highly sensitive antibody and/or DNA aptamer-quantum dot (Qdot)-based lateral flow (LF) test strips for on-site detection of at least 6 high consequence biotoxins including abrin, botulinum, ricin, saxitoxin, SEB and tetrodotoxin in environmental surface and soil swabs as well as food and water samples from sites of suspected bio-terrorist attacks. All tests will be conducted in one dot matrix array of capture receptors (antibodies and/or aptamers) on a single test strip with qualitative and quantitative handheld fluorescence imaging readers and sensitivity of at least 10 ppm (i.e., < 1 µg/100 µl or 2 drop sample). In addition, Nanohmics will explore potentially even more sensitive electrochemiluminescence (ECL)-Qdot- or Ru(bpy)3-based detection on its multiplexed LF test strips. Assays for small molecule toxins such as saxitoxin and tetrodotoxin will be based on a competitive format and therefore show decreased fluorescence or ECL with increasing toxin concentration. Once a format is finalized, Nanohmics' subcontractor Attogene Inc. will optimize and produce a number of prototype fluorescence and/or ECL-based LF strips for beta testing by DHS or other government agencies concerned with biothreats in Phase III.Nanohmics will produce a sensitive handheld qualitative fluorescence reader (Q-Viewer; $10 to $20) and a hardened but highly portable and even more sensitive quantitative reader (< $500) for field deployment. Both readers will be battery-operated and equipped with GPS tracking and WiFi/text message data transfer.