Biothreat Detector

The MENTOR-100 is a fully automated and portable detector of biothreats in the environment.  The sampling system collects particles of the appropriate size and passes them to a microfluidic system for processing and binding of any threats to appropriate markers.  The presence of bound markers is detected by a patented application of magnetic resonance technology.  The entire operation is autonomous, from sampling to detection and subsequent decontamination in preparation for the next sample.  The system not only detects biothreats but identifies them.  It is capable of performing both single-threat and multiplexed detection.  The target library is expandable and can include viruses, parasites and bacterial threats.

What We Offer

Current Configuration:

The MENTOR-100 is a automated and portable detector.  Required reagents are stored in an replaceable cartridge.  It is currently equipped with an air sampling system that collects particles of the appropriate size.  Sampling can be continuous or user-initiated.  Results can be displayed on a monitor near the unit or communicated securely to a remote control center.

Other Configurations:

• The air sampling system can be replaced by fluid samplers or by systems to assay discrete samples.
• The patented magnetic resonance assay method can be extended to the simultaneous assay of many samples.
• The system can be extended for implementation of assays developed by others.
• Future configurations may be even more compact and lightweight.

Applications:

Bioweapon Detection
• Homeland Security applications: Government installations (Military installations, Government buildings), Public facilities (Transportation facilities, cargo screening, Sports stadiums, Food and water), Corporate security (Building monitoring).Infectious Agent Detection

Clinical Applications
• Hospital monitoring (patients, infrastructure decontamination)
• Rapid patient screening (very large number of samples in a single scan)

Customers:

• U.S. Department of Homeland Security
• U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency

Collaborators:

• Aerosol Dynamics
• The San Diego State University
• U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical and Biological Center
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Labs

Our Technology

Multiple probes bind selectively to analyte DNA.  Enhanced sensitivity is achieved through the use of nanoparticles.  A single DNA strand can accommodate several nanoparticles.  Agglomeration of nanoparticles as a result of binding to threat DNA leads to a signal.

 

Magnetic field near a nanoparticle. Plot shows fields outside the particle. Positive peaks (red) correspond to the "poles" of the particle, along the applied-field direction.  Reduced-field regions (purple) correspond to the "equator" of the particle.

Patents

  • The following U.S. Patent has been issued. Other applications are in process; international applications have also been filed.

  • • A Magnetic Resonance System and Method to Detect and Confirm Analytes: U.S. Patent No. 7,781,228, August 24, 2011