NSF Award
0301027
0301027 Roger Brent Molecular Sciences Institute Developing high sensitivity epitope detection reagents for field effect devices<br/><br/> First a selection of "modern" antibody-based and peptide aptamer molecular reagents to recognize determinants (epitopes) expressed on toxins and organisms that simulate biological weapons is made. Next a selection of molecules that bind to an inert component of Bacillus anthracis toxin, the so-called "Protective antigen" and that bind to the surface of spores of the gram-positive organism Bacillus subtilis, which simulate spores of Bacillus anthracis is made. These recognition molecules and simulated biological agents to fabrication group, the Manalis group at the MIT Media Lab, which has recently devised and fabricated field effect devices that can detect surface effects such as binding, by changes in device capacitance. Collaboration with the Manalis group is ongoing to couple these novel molecules to their devices and to learn to use the resulting detectors to detect simulated biological warfare agents.
