Spore biomarker detection using a MEMS differential mobility spectrometer

Early detection technologies permit quick characterization of a bioweapons threat and identification of a hoax that will minimize human casualties and reduce the time and financial burdens associated with containment, triage and clean up. In this paper, we demonstrate that distinctive biological markers are present in pyrolyzed Bacillus endospore samples and these volatile chemical signatures can be detected by differential ion mobility spectrometry (DMS). The known endospore biomarker 2,6-pyridine-dicarboxylic acid (dipicolinic acid) can be detected by our micromachined DMS device, and Bacillus spore biomarkers are detected by DMS after pyrolysis.