The ability to selectively and sensitively detect analyte molecules in real-time and in everyday environmental conditions requires innovative sensing science and creative engineering. To allow large scale epidemiology studies or other translational health applications such as personalized health monitoring, robust, inexpensive, and truly portable solutions are critical. We present here an inexpensive handheld hybrid sensing platform that allows real-time detection of volatile organic compounds at the part-per-billion (ppb) levels.The sensing mechanism is based on the selective detection of analytes previously pre-concentrated and separated in a column. The detection is performed on quartz tuning fork resonators modified with molecularly-imprinted polymers (MIP) particles, hundreds of nanometer in size with molecular sized templates, synthesized to target the detection of hydrocarbon compounds. The MIP has demonstrated high sensitivity, selectivity, and reversibility. In addition, immunity to interferents (such as humidity, alcohols, ketones) is further enhanced by the selectivity created in the pre-concentration materials. The system has demonstrated to provide accurate results when compared to Gas Chromatography � Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and Photoionization Detector (PID).In order to make the system user-friendly, we have created a user interface embedded in a cell-phone, which in turn receives exposure data wirelessly from the tuning fork based sensing device. We believe the hybrid sensing system can cover current unmet need in studies such as vapor intrusion and groundwater remediation processes.

Hybrid sensing technology for real-time and remote monitoring of volatile organic compounds

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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