Award Data

To address the U.S. Army CBD need for a low-cost, universal, robust, and fieldable device for rapid, reproducible identification of protein variants from biological samples with high throughput, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new Dielectrophoretic Microfluidic Protein Analysis (DiMiPA) system based on an electrodeless dielectrophoresis-based, continuous-flow protein separa ...

Our objective is to develop a novel micropower source to be integrated with a microsensor, and communication chip on an insect, delivering a state-of-the-art unmanned chemical detection device. The biological fuel cell (Bio-FC) power source will leverage ongoing research at CFDRC and provide a compact/lightweight power supply for mounting on numerous types of insects and producing necessary power ...

Intelligent Automation Inc., proposed phase II approach and the demonstrated phase I prototype aims in the development of high sensitivity and selectivity for real time detection of Methyl Salicylate (MeS). In the phase I effort we demonstrated successfully: (1) Quartz Crystal Microbalance sensors for detection of MeS, (2) real time detection of change in concentration of MeS, (3) reuse of the Me ...

Molecular biology techniques allow generating combinatorial libraries of large number of enzyme variants. However, there is currently no technology available for screening the enzyme libraries for identifying variants with improved activity for the substrate. We propose to develop a novel, microfluidic, high-throughput platform for determining kinetic constants of enzyme variants and identifying v ...

Current drug discovery and development programs are severely limited by the expensive animal trials and oversimplified in vitro models. Results obtained from the in vitro models are not predictive of in vivo toxicity owing to significant difference in testing from the in vivo physiological conditions. In this context, we propose to develop and demonstrate a novel microfluidic device for quantitati ...

To address the CBD need for improved formulations to enhance the ease of use and bioavailability of antisense therapeutics, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a Multifunctional Antisense Therapeutics Nanocarrier and Inhalation Device (MATEN). This proposed system is based on a new dry powder formulation and a novel design of an inhaler that uses in-house developed mature compone ...

To address the Chemical/Bio Defense (CBD) need for in vitro models suitable for high-throughput screening of drug toxicities in human tissues, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new three-dimensional (3D) Microfluidic Platform for in-vitro Hematopoietic Stem Cell (HSC) Culture (3D-Mic-Stem). This proposed system is based on a 3D microfluidic design that uses HSCs for assaying ...

To address the U.S. Army/DTRA’s CBD program need for a robust screening process for use with large panels of enzymes to identify variants with higher affinity for organophosphorus (OP) substrates, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a Microfluidic Dielectrophoretic Screening (MDS) system. This proposed system is based on the new design of a microfluidic mixer, enzymatic reactor ...

Organophosphate (OP) nerve agents are the most dangerous chemical warfare agents and therefore pose a significant threat. Rapid and exact identification of the OP agent involved in any hazardous material incident could significantly facilitate the administration of the most effective therapeutic and allow for appropriate measures of protection and decontamination, thereby increasing survival of t ...

The goal of this SBIR project is to develop and demonstrate an electrokinetically driven nanofluidic sensor device of the physical size and shape that will allow integration with a THz spectroscopic instrument. The substrate and channel surfaces within the device will be appropriate for the acquisition of THz-frequency spectroscopic features from bio-molecules (e.g., DNA, RNA, proteins) in soluti ...