Objective To achieve the objectives given above, the system envisaged requires a number of well integrated building blocks and methodologies: -Analyte specific elements will be antibodies raised against the analytes of choice. Polyclonal antibodies will be prepared according to established protocols. Specificity will be matched to the environmental problem addressed by appropriate immunisation protocols and/or blending of antibodies. The performance of immunochemistry will be assessed in a conventional ELISA testbed. -For the detection of analytes a competitive test scheme will be implemented. ELISA results will serve as a reference. Competition will occur between the free analyte and compounds of the biochemical immobilisation system conjugated with analyte derivatives. The detection will occur in a heterogeneous format, i.e. at the transducer surface. -Spatially resolved surface modification strategies (covalent and non-covalent) will be developed for the stable and reproducible patterned modification of the transducer surface to establish spatially resolved multi-reaction areas corresponding to the number of analytes. (Optical) surface analytical techniques and functional testing will be used to characterise surface chemistry. -An auxiliary immobilising system consisting of highly specific auxiliary bioaffinity compounds (antibodies or bioaffinity ligands) will serve to target the detection compounds to selected areas of the transducer surface. This novel idea is owned by GEC Marconi Ltd and is currently subject to patent applications (Ref. N 9216450.8/9216683.4/9219743.4/9315995.2 in GB, 93917967.7 in Europe and 08-318,825 in the USA). -The transducer system will be based on fluorescence detection. A micro-optical/integrated optical transducer element will be used to allow effective excitation and spatially resolved detection of fluorophores bound to the surface. Mathematical modelling and systematic analysis of experimental results will be used to optimise the device. -The system setup will start with well defined interfaces (soft- and hardware) between compounds. Commercially available building blocks or units from commercially sold systems will be used where available. A system analysis will precede the implementation of an advanced demonstrator. -Validation will be carried out by two partners with a high degree of experience in analyzing complex environmental samples. The RIANA system will be tested in comparison with established reference techniques and procedures (instrumental analysis). Reference materials that were developed under the Measurement and Testing programme of the EU will be used. Where standardised methods do not exist neither at the national level nor at the European level US-EPA protocols will be adapted. Fields of science medical and health sciencesbasic medicineimmunologyimmunisationnatural sciencesmathematicsapplied mathematicsmathematical model Programme(s) FP4-ENV 2C - Specific programme of research and technological development in the field of environment and climate, 1994-1998 Topic(s) 020103 - Biosensors Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator THE UNIVERSITY OF TUEBINGEN EU contribution No data Address Auf der Morgenstelle 8 72076 TUEBINGEN Germany See on map Total cost No data Participants (5) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all Bodenseewerk Perkin-Elmer GmbH Germany EU contribution No data Address Alte Nussdorferstrasse 88662 Überlingen See on map Total cost No data CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS Spain EU contribution No data Address 18-26,Jordi Girona 18-26 08034 BARCELONA See on map Total cost No data GEC Marconi Ltd United Kingdom EU contribution No data Address Hirst Research Centre Elstree Way HA9 1RX Wembley See on map Total cost No data GIE Anjou-Recherche France EU contribution No data Address 109,Rue des Cètes 109 78600 Maison-Laffitte See on map Total cost No data UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON United Kingdom EU contribution No data Address University Road, Highfield SO17 1BJ SOUTHAMPTON See on map Total cost No data