Dendritic Polymers: A New Class of Polymers for Decontamination and Detection of Chemical and Biological Warfare Agents

摘要

Our program has focused on the use of dendritic polymers as potential enhancers of biodetection or biosensor schemes for the detection of analytes such as biological warfare agents. Dendritic polymers exhibit a new macromolecular architecture, and novel properties as well, when compared to conventional polymers such as linear polymers. The aim was to see if we could utilize these new polymers for improved design of biosensors. To this end we investigated the utility of attaching antibodies to a solid phase (such as a QCM device) via polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers in an effort to improve parameters such as sensitivity in immunoassays. Clinical diagnostic assays in the commercial sector have successfully incoroporated these polymers for improved performance, and we chose to see if similar advantages could be translated to alternative transducers such as a QCM device. In addition, preliminary investigations were initiated in which PAMAM dendrimers are used as chemical amplifiers in biosensors in which detection is done colorimetrically via the naked eye. We also began to investigate immunoreactions and dendrimer-enhanced immunoprecipitations in capillaries as an alternate platform for a biodetection device.