Bioluminescent bioreporter integrated circuit (BBIC) sensors

Bioluminescent bioreporter integrated circuits (BBICs) are hybrid microluminometer/whole-cell reporter sensor devices for monitoring target chemical and biological agents. The integrated circuit portion of the biosensor consists of a 0.35mum complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) photodiode capable of low level light detection within an approximate 2.25 mm² footprint. Interfaced to it is a population of bioreporter microorganisms genetically engineered to specifically and reproducibly respond to desired analytes through autonomous, quantitative emission of luxCDABE-based bioluminescent light signals. The microluminometer chip detects these signals, processes them, and communicates the results either through cable or wireless interconnects for distributed biosensing. In addition, BBIC chips can be outfitted with auxiliary functions such as time stamping, positional sensing, or temperature measurement to provide a more thorough profile of the environment in which it is operating. Our existing laboratory set-up places the BBIC in-line with a liquid or air flow-through system for continuous online monitoring. A remote BBIC has also been developed for static monitoring in either liquid or vapor phase. Detection limits for tested bioreporters approach part-per-billion levels with response times of less than one hour. In progress evolution of BBIC design using nanostructured arrays of vertically aligned carbon nanofibers may permit multiplexed detection of chemical and biological agents in a single chip format