A portable array biosensor for detecting multiple analytes in complex samples

The Multi-Analyte Array Biosensor (MAAB) has been developed at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) with the goal of simultaneously detecting and identifying multiple target agents in complex samples with minimal user manipulation. This paper will focus on recent improvements in the biochemical and engineering aspects of this instrument. These improvements have enabled the expansion of the repertoire of analytes detected to include Salmonella typhimurium and Listeria monocytogenes, and also expanded the different sample matrices tested. Furthermore, all components of the biochemical assays could be prepared well in advance of sample testing, resulting in a "plug-and-play" methodology. Simultaneous detection of three toxins (ricin, staphylococcal enterotoxin B, and cholera toxin) was demonstrated using a novel fluidics cube module that limits the number of manipulations to only the initial sample loading. This work demonstrates the utility of the MAAB for rapid analysis of complex samples with multianalyte capability, with a minimum of operator manipulations required for either sample preparation or final analysis.