Assessment by Ames Test and Comet Assay of Toxicity Potential of Polymer used to Develop a Field Capable Rapid Detection Device to Analyze Environmental Samples

摘要

Current methods of detecting food-borne pathogens take days to produce and confirm results. There is a need for a field-capable rapid-detection device, and such a device is being developed in a collaborative effort including FDA, MIT and other partners. In this study the materials developed for conductive and surface area character of the biosensor are assessed for potential cytotoxicity. The device is comprised of melt-spun polypropylene coupons which have been coated with Polymerized 3,4-Ethylenedioxythiophene and 3-Thiopheneethanol (P(EDOT-co-3TE)). The copolymer was deposited on the surface of the microfibers via oxidative Chemical Vapor Deposition (oCVD). The process creates a conductive conformal layer that is 100-300nm thick. Although there have been previous tests assessing cell viability after exposure of this copolymer, no long range effects were studied. The Ames Test and Comet Assay have been used in this study to examine the mutagenic and cytotoxic potential of the deposited copolymer. The assays conducted in this study provide evidence that the copolymer is non-toxic to humans.