Physical Optics Corporation — Department of Homeland Security SBIR Phase I: High-fidelity biomolecular analysis techniques, such as PCR, DNA sequencing, or ELISA, rel

Description

High-fidelity biomolecular analysis techniques, such as PCR, DNA sequencing, or ELISA, rely heavily on adequate sample preprocessing. To achieve maximum performance from these sensitive analytical techniques, the DHS needs novel methods for flowthrough systems that prepare and concentrate biological materials from environmental samples. Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a Multistage Dielectrophoretic Sample Preparation (MDSP) system, based on a size-exclusion filtering method combined with a multistage electrodeless dielectrophoretic separation technique. Separation of biological material is followed by biomaterial purification, elution, concentration, and collection. The MDSP system will be composed of a reusable microfluidic chip, microfluidic platform, and readout unit. The innovations in the MDSP system enable it to perform biological material separation into four classes: bacterial cells and spores, viral particles, DNAs/RNAs, and proteins/polypeptides. In Phase I, POC will demonstrate the feasibility of the MDSP system by developing a benchtop prototype capable of separating, purifying, concentrating, and collecting the four individual classes of biological material from a mixture containing mineral debris in less than 15 minutes. In Phase II, POC plans to develop a fully functional MDSP system prototype capable of processing biological material from environmental samples, such as soil, that can be integrated into an automated detection system.