Nanobody-based point-of-use endotoxin detection kit for rapid water safety monitoring
A handheld, customizable biosensor kit that uses nanobody technology to continuously and rapidly detect endotoxins in water. Built on a proven agglutination-based platform previously validated for fentanyl detection, this solution delivers results in minutes at the point of use without requiring laboratory infrastructure.
Overview
Quantitative BioSciences, Inc. (QBI) is developing a continuous, rapid, and simple point-of-use endotoxin detection kit designed to bring laboratory-grade water safety testing directly into the field. The solution leverages QBI's proprietary nanobody-based biosensing platform, which has already been validated through a fentanyl-specific sensor prototype. By swapping in a newly developed endotoxin-specific nanobody, the platform can be tailored to detect endotoxins in water with the same speed, specificity, and ease of use demonstrated in prior work. The result is a handheld, user-friendly kit that enables on-site decision-making for water quality management.
Technical specifications
Key features:
- Nanobody-based detection — Uses single-domain antibodies (VHH/nanobodies) engineered for high specificity to endotoxin targets
- Agglutination-based assay — A well-established, inexpensive visual readout that does not require sophisticated laboratory equipment
- Rapid response time — Prior fentanyl sensor validation demonstrated results in approximately 13 minutes
- Sensitivity and linearity — Previously validated platform achieved a limit of detection and quantification of 15 ppb with linearity between 2.5 and 25 ppb
- Continuous, room-temperature stability — Assay remained quantifiable for up to 14 days when stored at room temperature
- Customizable platform — New targets can be addressed by developing and integrating a target-specific nanobody
- Handheld, point-of-use format — Designed for field deployment and ease of use without specialized training
- Inexpensive manufacturing — Built on low-cost assay components suitable for scalable production
Technology readiness level
The underlying nanobody-based agglutination biosensor platform has been validated through a fentanyl-detection prototype, with quantified performance metrics including limit of detection, response time, linearity, and shelf-life stability already established in laboratory testing. The current effort focuses on developing and screening up to ten candidate endotoxin-specific nanobodies in collaboration with a nanobody development partner, selecting the highest-specificity candidate, and integrating it into the existing assay via bioengineering. Following integration, the team will repeat full performance characterization (sensitivity, rapidity, robustness) and demonstrate ease of use and manufacturing feasibility. The technology is currently at an advanced development stage, with platform validation complete and target-specific validation in progress.
About Quantitative BioSciences, Inc.
Quantitative BioSciences, Inc. (QBI) is a biotechnology company that integrates bioengineering, synthetic biology, and bioinformatics to develop custom biosensing and immunoassay solutions. Founded in 2010, the company built the Qube platform, an at-line, autonomous sensing system designed for continuous, multiplexed, and quantitative monitoring of various analytes, including proteins, pathogens, chemicals, and environmental contaminants. Their technology utilizes proprietary synthetic libraries for rapid VHH (single-domain antibody) discovery, allowing for the customization of sensors to specific targets. The company combines microfluidics, machine learning, and advanced optics to translate biological signals into actionable data, providing alternatives to traditional, sporadic laboratory sampling methods.
QBI serves clients across the life sciences, pharmaceutical, water treatment, and environmental monitoring sectors by providing tools for process control, real-time quality assurance, and early warning systems. Their technology has been validated through numerous R&D projects supported by federal agencies including the NIH, DOE, DARPA, IARPA, USDA, EPA, and NOAA. By deploying these robust, field-deployable platforms, QBI helps partners reduce labor, automate complex monitoring workflows, and improve decision-making in both industrial and environmental settings. The company frequently collaborates with academic and commercial partners to demonstrate the utility and field robustness of its sensing technologies.
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