The development of immunoassays to four biological threat agents in a bidiffractive grating biosensor

A critical need exists for a field deployable biosensor to detect environme ntal infectious agents in collected air samples rapidly, with sensitivity a nd specificity approaching that of standard laboratory procedures. The idea l sensor would analyze unknown samples in minutes, have programmable operat ion for unattended sample analysis, and be capable of multiple agent analys is for a number of agents. The goal of this project was to further the deve lopment of the bidiffractive grating biosensor (BDG) created through collab oration between Battelle Memorial Institute (BMI), Hoffman LaRoche (HLR), a nd the Naval Medical Research Command (NMRC). This manuscript details the d evelopment, optimization, and evaluation of this device as a potential fiel d deployable biosensor. Well-characterized immunochemical reagents develope d by the Biological Defense Research Department (BDRD) at NMRI were employe d to develop assays in the BDG. These results were compared to those obtain ed with antigen capture enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). Four s eparate antigens were evaluated: Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin B (SEB), ricin (RIC), Francisella tularensis (FT), and Clostridium botulinum toxin (BOT). (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.