Astrobiological molecularly imprinted polymer sensors

The purpose of the Astrobiological MIP Sensor (AMS) Project is to develop reliable, low-cost, low-mass, low-power consumption detection technologies for in situ analysis of biochemical markers, and other indicators of astrobiological importance. To this end, we are investigating the potential role that molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP) could serve in the recognition of pre-biotic and biotic compounds in planetary, astrobiological and geochemical mission profiles. While MIPs are effective molecular recognition tools, a signal transduction method must be developed so that the recognition of analytes can be realized. In the course of this study, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) will be the detection method of the MIP recognition event. In addition, MIP-coated SPR substrates were subjected to vibration, temperature and radiation testing to demonstrate that they could withstand the rigors of space travel. The methods developed in this study require capture of the biomarkers onto the SPR sensor chip, followed by addition of a MIP. It is the binding of the MIP to the SPR bound analyte that amplifies the SPR signal associated with binding of the low molecular weight analyte. The MIPs, developed in this study are water-soluble processable star polymers while the SPR device used was SensíQ™ by Nomatics. Proof-of-principal experiments were first demonstrated using amino biotin.