Perspective: Decontamination of Chemical and Biological Warfare Agents Using Green Technologies

Rushik Y. Patel* and Cerasela Zoica Dinu

Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506

Presentation Category: Physical Sciences & Engineering (Poster Presentation #147)

Student’s Major: Biomedical Engineering

Chemical and biological warfare agents such as mustard gas and hydrogen cyanide have posed a threat to humanity since the 1930s. Current methods of decontamination are through chemical hydrolysis, the breaking of bonds within the molecule, and/or high temperature incineration. However, such methods are detrimental to the environment as large amounts of greenhouse gases are often released into the air or byproduct resulted from such compounds degradation pose logistical burden. There is a need for a safer, more effective alternative that could reduce economic and environmental burden. Enzymatic decontamination has been proposed as a viable alternative that could allow “green” degradation of synthetic and natural compounds that normally have deleterious effects. The implementation of analysis such as Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), a process that is used to multiply DNA and RNA samples, and computational design has improved enzymes’ ability to break down a variety of chemical agents such as sarin or chemical warfare agents that contain a phosphorus group. Enzymes that are used in such decontamination strategies include phosphotriesterase (PTE) and acetyl cholinesterase (AChE). Additionally, a broad-range resequencing pathogen microarray (RPM) has been developed to detect biothreat agents that are undetected by PCR; RPMs screen fine particles and air dust samples for harmful chemical and biological molecules. This literature review analyzes current methods of detecting and decontamination of chemical and biological warfare agents using enzymatic approaches. Possible future research and novel strategies on what are the challenges posed by enzyme implementation are also discussed.

Funding:

Program/mechanism supporting research/creative efforts: a WVU 297-level course