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Rapid Detection of VOCs Associated with Aflatoxin Contaminated Food and Feeds

Award Information
Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Branch: Food and Drug Administration
Contract: 1R43FD003466-01A1
Agency Tracking Number: FD003466
Amount: $147,304.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: N/A
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: N/A
Award Year: 2008
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): N/A
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
22500 Lake Rd Suite 801
ROCKY RIVER, OH 44116
United States
DUNS: 010131238
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 ROBERT SCARR
 (440) 895-9520
 RFSCARR@WOWWAY.COM
Business Contact
 NICHOLAS SMILANICH
Phone: () -
Email: nsmilanich@aol.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The project addresses an important problem that has a direct impact on human and animal health. Mold produced aflatoxins are carcinogenic and represent a direct threat to human health. The product is a nano- crystalline
tin oxide sensor. This sensor employs interdigitated electrodes for measurement of the change of the bulk resistance of the tin oxide semiconductor film as it encounters organic vapors emanating from the mold as it produces the aflatoxin. The approach is
innovative because it addresses the main obstacles to fabrication of an accurate, fully functional, cost-effective sensor. The basic tin oxide sensory material will be nano-structured in composition and therefore will provide the necessary step function in
crease in the number of active sites required for exceptional performance. The long term objective is the protection of United States food and feed grains from contamination by aflatoxins, potent hepatocarcinogens produced by Aspergillus flavus. A number o
f A. flavus strains (toxigenic and atoxigenic ) will be employed in this Phase I study. Microbiological growth assays will determine the volatiles produced by each of the test fungi on corn seeds. Aflatoxins will be identified and quantified by High Perfor
mance Liquid Chromaotography (HPLC). Gas chromatography will be used to identify volatiles present. The unique and prevalent volatiles associated with the toxigenic strains will be used as test markers in the Sensor Development Corporation test system. Suc
cessful completion of this project will demonstrate the feasibility of distinguishing a particular target gas from all other gases in a mixture, particularly for those gases associated with aflatoxin production in combination with other microbial emanation
s and potential interferants. The specific aims of this work are: 1) Identify unique volatile compound(s) associated with aflatoxin production by Aspergillus flavus growing on corn; and 2) Identify sensor operating conditions and catalyst(s) which will all
ow specific airborne volatiles of Aim 1 to be selectively detected and quantified in atmospheres which also contain a mixture of non-specific volatiles and potential interferants. Phase II will involve selecting sensors for installation in a test prototype
device. These sensors will be installed in the device and the prototype modified to support testing activity. The commercial implication of this work is to bring to the Agricultural industry a much needed new product based on a disruptive technology offer
ing a new way to rapidly detect mycotoxins in stored grains in real-time. This will provide access to a multi billion dollar US market in which key trends are favorable i.e. US and the world are demanding higher quality less toxins - because of an increa
sed public consciousness of safety issues in human and pet foods. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE The prevalence and level of human exposure to aflatoxin on a global scale has been reviewed, and the resulting conclusion is that approximately 4.5 billion persons in
the world are chronically exposed to largely uncontrolled amounts of the toxin. The aflatoxin exposure and the toxic affects on immunity and nutrition combine to negatively affect health factors (including HIV infection) that account for greater than 40%
of the burden of diseases in developing countries where a short lifespan is prevalent. Children exposed to aflatoxin may become stunted, underweight, and more susceptible to infectious diseases in childhood and later life.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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