New Strategies for the Development of Environmental Biosensors

Stephen S. Koenigsberg, Regenesis, 1011 Calle Sombra, San Clemente, CA, 92673, Tel: 949-366-8000, Email: steve@regenesis.com
Lance Laing, Regenesis, 12 Leslie Road, Belmont, MA, 02478
David Weinkle, Eran Associates, 6057 James Alan Street, Cypress, CA 90630, Tel: 714-828-7183, Email:  dweinkle@attbi.com

The environmental industry is now being impacted by a paradigm shift in analytical measurement that has been traditionally called the “bench to in-line shift”, but in reality is a “bench to biosensor shift”.  The latter is tied to the recent biotechnology revolution and offers a promise for a host of “better, faster and cheaper” means of obtaining data in the field.

Biosensors at their most fundamental level are small-scale binding reactions between a sensor molecule and the target analyte. The term biosensor is invoked here because the sensor molecule in our system is a DNA-protein complex that can react with the target analyte.  These reaction chemistries are then coupled to special detection and signaling platforms.  Regenesis has completed proof-of-concept work that shows it is possible to detect inorganic species, such as arsenic, at very low levels with minimal interference and with an output measured in a few minutes.  This technology can be extended to other inorganic species, as well as organic molecules.  Ultimately these devices will be conveniently field portable and hand-held.

A discussion of basic binding, specific detection, and signaling interactions will be discussed in contrast to current options.  Eventually, the goal is to multiplex the system to give a suite of results at one time in the field as an alternative to expensive and time-delayed results that require off-site laboratory services. Currently, the value of individual contaminant tests is great as witnessed by the recent need for arsenic monitoring under the lowered U.S. drinking water standard (10 μg/L).

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