A&S Fellows Program 2018 Opportunities

Development of a Smartphone-Operated Sensor for BPA The detection of bisphenol A (BPA) in commercial products is of interest from a variety of perspectives, due to the fact that BPA and related compounds are suspected endocrine disruptors and can have other negative health effects. Individual consumers are also interested in knowing whether their products contain BPA, and this interest is responsible for the increase in the number of BPA-free labeled products currently on the market. Unfortunately, there are two problems with the use of this label: (a) It is unregulated, meaning that products that are labeled BPA-free can still contain large quantities of BPA; and (b) products that are BPA-free can contain large quantities of chemicals that are related to BPA, including bisphenol S (BPS) and bisphenol F (BPF), and these chemicals have similar or even worse toxicities. Previous research done in the Levine group has focused on the detection of toxicants, using highly efficient solution-state methods and a laboratory grade instrument. These methods have been successful for the detection of broad varieties of analytes in multiple complex environments, including in human urine, plasma, and breast milk, as well as in extracts collected from the sites of oil and fuel spills. Despite strong success, problems in translating this detection into practical devices stem from the use of a laboratory-grade fluorimeter, a highly expensive, bulky instrument that requires trained operators. We propose herein to replace the use of the fluorimeter with hand-held smartphones, which will dramatically increase the practicality of this device. Moreover, because more than 70% of adults in the United States own smartphones,sensor technology using those smartphones will be instantly accessible to broad swaths of the population. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: No previous research experience is required, but an interest in learning about science and solving high impact problems will benefit everyone involved. Familiarity with smartphones and willingness to work with computer technology will help ensure that the project proceeds smoothly. PI: Dr. Mindy Levine