SBIR-STTR Award

Nanoparticles (NPs) are nanometer-sized metallic compounds that can be coupled to receptors and used as sprays to capture and rapidly detect biowarfare (BW) agents on surfaces. In Phase I, NanoScience Diagnostics (NSD), in conjunction with Pace University, proposes to couple its unique NPs to antibodies and demonstrate detection of E. coli bacteria by a sensitive fluorescence methodology. Since, NPs are highly fluorescent and exhibit specific emission peaks, the NSD-Pace team will investigate surface detection of the bacteria by means of a light source and emission filters coupled to a CCD camera. In addition, the team will investigate coupling of microwave energy into NPs for enhanced killing of antibody-NP-captured BW agents. Initial experiments will be conducted in a conventional microwave oven on a low power setting. Early in Phase II, NSD will investigate other types of receptors such as DNA aptamers to couple to the NPs to extend shelf-life. From comparisons of fluorescence detectability and microwave kill rates, NSD and Pace will choose one type of receptor-NP conjugate. In the latter part of Phase II, NSD and Pace will develop or obtain receptors for several top BW agents, create cocktails of multiple receptor-NP conjugates and validate effectiveness in building interior tests. There exists a great need for microbial detection and decontamination on fomites (inanimate objects including surfaces) in homeland defense as well as the food and medical industries. NSD's receptor-conjugated-NP will be very useful in Medical Diagnostics for increasing the sensitivity of detection of various antigens and infectious disease pathogens. NSD's receptor-conjugated-NP product may be adapted to sensitively detect and nullify pathogenic microbes or toxins on surfaces in surgical suites, industrial clean rooms, or food processing facilities as well as building interiors. In addition, the technology may be adaptable to use in vivo to target deep tissue infections or tumors with highly directed microwave energy that selectively kills cells with bound receptor-NP complexes. The technology will probably also heat inactivate viruses and toxins making it even more broadly applicable

NanoScience Diagnostics Inc. (NSD) and Texas State University (TxSU) plan to build on NSD's very successful Phase I STTR project in which the utility of fluorescent nanoparticles (NP)-antibody conjugates for both detection and decontamination of bacteria (as models of biological threat agents) on building interior surfaces was verified. During Phase I, NSD discovered confidential and proprietary properties of fluorescent NPs that enable one-step, homogenous assays without wash steps and the rapid, potent killing of bacteria. These facts afford sensitive detection and effective decontamination in a single step following spraying of antibody-NP conjugates onto building interior surfaces with or without microwave irradiation. Microwave irradiation will used to ensure sterilization of building interiors following binding of receptor-NP conjugates to target biological threat agents. In Phase II, the NSD-TxSU team will develop, optimize, package, and deliver several different biological threat agent fluorescent NP-based immunoassay test kits to use with a compact scanning spectrofluorometer to be developed in conjunction with Taboada Research Instruments (San Antonio, TX). TxSU will provide key support in nanomaterials (including relevant materials characterization expertise/resources like electron microscopy, fluorescence analysis, etc), and serve as a resource for additional collaborative chemistry and biochemistry support for the project if needed.