Diagnostic device for detecting biomarkers of early multiorgan injury in saliva

Combat soldiers are exposed to vast numbers of dangerous chemicals with potentially adverse health outcomes. This SBIR proposal aims to develop a new class of saliva based diagnostic assays that will measure the bodys response to toxic chemical exposure with a panel of clinically validated biomarkers that are indicative of organ injury. The tests will leverage the proven functionality of lateral flow diagnostic devices with novel nanoparticles and extraction formats that have the potential to increase lateral flow assay sensitivity by up to 3 orders of magnitude over the current state of the art. The developed diagnostic will be rapid, inexpensive and accurate. A smart phone based reader compatible with equipment already carried by soldiers will quantify the signal from each of the channels of the multiplexed diagnostic and interpret the results.