SLEEP WELL
Biosensor to detect the presence of bed bugs in mattresses.
INTRODUCTION
o The bedbug (or bed bug) is an insect of the family Cimicidae that lives by hematophagy - feeding on the blood of humans and other warm-blooded hosts. [1] o When a person is bitten a large oval lump may arise followed by itching, or no reaction or a delayed reaction may be experienced. The bite may be mistaken for a mosquito bite or even a flea bite. Because the bite reaction is similar to that caused by other insects, bed bug infestations are difficult to diagnose correctly when bites are first experienced. This allows the bed bug population to increase and possibly disperse before the culprit is identified.[2] o Bedbugs seem to possess all of the necessary prerequisites for being capable of passing diseases from one host to another. There is the possibility that the saliva of the bedbugs may cause anaphylactic shock as well as anemia in a some people. In addition bedbugs can also transmit Chagas disease as well as Hepatitis B.[1]
SLEEPWELL BIOSENSOR
o This biosensor is in the form of a sheet that can be spread over the mattress at all times. o It will be able to diagnose the presence of even a single bed bug. o This is done through the detection of its feces. o The picture shows a mattress with bedbugs with some fecal matter thrown in for good measure. o Bed bugs usually eliminate much of the water from the blood meal in the form of feces. These feces should contain intact or partially digested human hemoglobin molecules as well as other blood proteins. o The biosensor will have monoclonal antibodies/polyclonal antibodies bound to the sheet.
o The antibodies will bind to the epitopes on hemoglobin molecule that is present in the feces. o The sheet can then be dipped in a solution that contain secondary antibodies bound to an enzyme. o Then suitable substrate can be sprayed on it; change in color will denote a bed bug infestation.
ANALYTE DETECTED:
o Intact or partially digested hemoglobin protein molecule that is present in the fecal matter.
SAMPLE THAT IS ANALYZED:
o Fecal matter of bed bugs.
BIOSENSING ELEMENT USED:
o Monoclonal antibodies specific to hemoglobin protein .
WHY SHOULD IT BE A BIOSENSOR?
o The biosensor diagnoses bed bug infestations through detection of fecal matter that is excreted by these insects. More specifically it works through the detection of intact or partially digested hemoglobin molecule present in the fecal matter through monoclonal antibodies specific to it, as such it has to be a biosensor.
IS IT COMMERCIALLY VIABLE?
o Of course it is. Bed bug infestations are a big problem, especially in big metropolitan cities like New York. o Now with this biosensor, customers can carry out periodic testing off their mattresses. o Early detection of an infestation can prevent it from festering into a huge problem. o Each sheet can only be used once. So it’s a perennial revenue generating product for the manufacturing company.
