Immunochemical Explosive Detector

A  highly sensitive and compact Immunochemical Explosive Detector based on displacement immunoassay technique has been designed & developed for rapid detection of explosive compounds 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) at nanomole levels   (schematic shown below). The system consists of microreactor column containing antibodies tagged beads saturated with tracer (fluorophore2a-labeled TNT). TNT sample (standard) mixed with ix volume (~0.2  mL)  of distilled water in a tube/well is then passed through the column and  the  amount  of  tracer  displaced  by target molecule (TNT) is measured  and correlated with concentration of TNT in the samples. The developed system provides a reusable sensor, suitable for continuous  monitoring of explosives, with an operating lifetime of over 10 positive samples. The micro-reactor column based immunochemical assay format exhibited a detection limit  of approximately 100 ppb (~100 ng/mL) for TNT. The system is being upgraded for simultaneously monitoring all three explosives (TNT, RDX and PETN) by using suitable antibodies in the three individual columns. Also,a portable fluorescence system coupled with flow-through assembly consisting of a micro-reactor unit (150 uL capacity) has been developed for the on-line monitoring of explosives.

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