Title: Microfluidic Immunoassay Using Gel Electrophoresis for Early Stage Pathogen Detection

Date/Time: Tuesday, August 8, 2006, 10:00 am – 10:30 am (PT)

Location: Building 940 Auditorium (Sandia CA), Building 980, Room 95 (Sandia NM)

Brief Abstract: There is a great need for portable devices for toxin and pathogen detection that enable rapid analysis (<minutes) using tiny amounts of sample in point-of-incident scenarios.  We have developed a microfluidic chip-based immunoassay which utilizes native capillary gel electrophoresis to separate unbound antigen from a larger antigen-antibody complex to quickly determine the concentration of the antigen.  Testing and evaluation for fast and high resolution separation of proteins has been performed on several types and concentrations of liquid and cross linked sieving gels. We are also exploring various surface coatings on both glass and polydimethylsioxlane (PDMS) microdevices to determine the most effective separation system.

Traditional methods of detection such as ELISA or SDS-PAGE are too expensive, time consuming, and insensitive for early detection of many pathogens. Our end goal is to tailor an immunoassay for foot and mouth disease (FMD), a high-consequence livestock pathogen which could potentially be used as bioterror agent. In the absence of a rapid diagnostic test for FMD infection, all potentially infected animals would be culled resulting in extraordinary economic losses.   Because research using FMD is limited to BSL-4 facilities, we are currently testing our device using other relevant biodefense targets such as influenza A, tetanus toxin, and Bacillus anthracis protective antigen.

CSRI POC: Anup Singh, (925) 294-1260