Development of Novel Flow Cytometer for Biological Warfare Agent Detection

SESI proposes the development of a novel flow cytometer to detect biological warfare agents in large multiplex of up to 300 agents. Our proposed cytometer combines new phosphorescence technology in conjunction with a state-of-the-art flow cytometer configuration to achieve simultaneous 300-agent multiplexing without further complication of the cytometer design. Up to 60 agents could be simultaneously detected in a flow cytometer equipped with only an upconversion phosphor channel and forward scattering. An innovative feature of our channel as a baseline operation, as well as phosphor channel performance using the fundamental laser wavelength. In addition, the flow cytometer configuration will implement an electric cell volume measurement capability for accurate sizing of individual cells. The proposed cytometer optically, and electrically, probes individual cells at rates of up to 1000 cells per second. This flow speed of the cytometer allows continuous point sampling and monitoring. Second generation advances in miniaturization, (which will speed up assay kinetics and reduce the sample volumes required to achieve detection) may permit use of this system on mobile platforms, such as the UAV.