Agentase Chemical Agent Detection Kit

The development of the Agentase CAD Kit first began as a collaboration between Alan Russell from the University of Pittsburgh and researchers from the Army Research Office (ARO), an extramural basic research component of the U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL).[3][4]

Russell was researching the interface between enzymes and polymers and was investigating how to create a polymer sponge-like material that could detect the pH-dependent catalytic activity of enzymes. In the early 1990s, Russell reached out to ARO with a research proposal to explore a variety of enzymes that had differing responses to temperature and pressure. The scientists at ARO accepted the proposal and coordinated research efforts with the University of Pittsburgh.[3][4] The combined efforts led to the discovery of a functional catalytic buffering system that could detect the presence of nerve agents, and Russell published the paper reporting this discovery in 2002.[5]

Following the publication, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) facilitated the process to turn the discovery into a commercially viable product, resulting in the development of the handheld Nerve Agent Sensor, a pen-shaped sensor with enzyme-containing polymers at the tip that could identify the presence of nerve agents like VX and sarin with a color change from yellow to red. Russell and his former student, Keith LeJeune, then co-founded a private company called Agentase LLC to manufacture enzyme-based sensors.[3][4][6]

In 2003, Agentase LLC developed warfare-grade blood and blister agent sensors that could detect the presence of mustard gas and other hydrogen cyanide and cyanogen chloride-based agents.[6] Around the same time, the company enhanced the capabilities of the Nerve Agent Sensor to develop the Nerve Agent Sensing Biopolymer Wipe, an enzyme-based biosensor that could detect nerve agents at surfaces, in solution, and in the air.[7] With the help of a program developed by ARL chief scientist Stephen Lee that enforced decontamination and protection against chemical warfare, the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency fielded the Agentase’s nerve sensors and its blood and blister agent sensors in the war in both Iraq and Afghanistan.[4][8]

By 2005, Agentase LLC assembled together the Agentase CAD Kit, which bundled the nerve sensors with the blood and blister sensors in single kit. The Agentase CAD Kit was marketed not only to the U.S. Department of Defense but also to emergency first responders and chemical workers that handled hazardous materials.[6]

In the late 2000s, Agentase LLC, with support from the Army Research Laboratory, developed the Agentase Chemical Agent Disclosure (CAD) spray, a spray-based product that detected the presence of nerve agents and pinpointed their location on surfaces.[9][10][11] Agentase LLC was later acquired by FLIR Systems in 2010.[12]

Emergency responders could use this kit to conduct surface cross examination for the presence of nerve (G and V series), blood (AC), and blister (AC) agents, acids, bases, aldehydes, and oxidizers.[13] The Agentase kit acted similar to a glow stick. The operator cracked the ampule inside the sensor barrel which released the enzyme solution into a sponge. The sponge was then applied directly to a surface for sample collection. Each sensor provided color codes so that chemical detection results could be understood by personnel without extensive training and skills. The kit was used in a number of military, law enforcement, and emergency response scenarios.[14]