Microfluidic chip with optical sensor for rapid detection of nerve agent Sarin in water samples

Hsih Yin Tan; Nam-Trung Nguyen; Weng Keong Loke; Yong Teng Tan

doi:10.1117/12.697234

14 December 2006 Microfluidic chip with optical sensor for rapid detection of nerve agent Sarin in water samples

Hsih Yin Tan, Nam-Trung Nguyen, Weng Keong Loke, Yong Teng Tan

Proceedings Volume 6416, Biomedical Applications of Micro- and Nanoengineering III; 64160M (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.697234
Event: SPIE Smart Materials, Nano- and Micro-Smart Systems, 2006, Adelaide, Australia

Abstract

The chemical warfare agent Sarin is an organophosphate that is highly toxic to humans as they can act as cholinesterase inhibitors, that disrupts neuromuscular transmission. As these nerve agents are colorless, odorless and highly toxic, they can be introduced into drinking water as a means of terrorist sabotage. Hence, numerous innovative devices and methods have been developed for rapid detection of these organophosphates. Microfluidic technology allows the implementation of fast and sensitive detection of Sarin. In this paper, a micro-total analysis systems (TAS), also known as Lab-on-a-chip, fitted with an optical detection system has been developed to analyze the presence of the nerve agent sarin in water samples. In the present set-up, inhibition of co-introduced cholinesterase and water samples containing trace amounts of nerve agent sarin into the microfluidic device was used as the basis for selective detection of sarin. The device was fabricated using polymeric micromachining with PMMA (poly (methymethacrylate)) as the substrate material. A chromophore was utilized to measure the activity of remnant cholinesterase activity, which is inversely related to the amount of sarin present in the water samples. Comparisons were made between two different optical detection techniques and the findings will be presented in this paper. The presented measurement method is simple, fast and as sensitive as Gas Chromatography.

Citation Download Citation

Hsih Yin Tan, Nam-Trung Nguyen, Weng Keong Loke, and Yong Teng Tan "Microfluidic chip with optical sensor for rapid detection of nerve agent Sarin in water samples", Proc. SPIE 6416, Biomedical Applications of Micro- and Nanoengineering III, 64160M (14 December 2006); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.697234

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available