Abstract: A nondestructive process for determining the reactive capacity of a test biological by Raman scattering. The test biological may be any one of enzymes, enzyme cofactors, coenzymes, antibodies, antibody fragments, hemeproteins, peptides, synthetic peptides, toxins, toxoids, glycosphingolipids, lectins, lipids, lipid complexes, phospholipids, carbohydrates, saccharides, gangliosides, nucleic acids, fragments of nucleic acids, pathogen adhesion factors, receptors, receptor subunits, membranes, organelles, cells, tissues and complexes containing membranes, organelles, cells and tissues, or a bioconcentrator. The test biological is irradiated with a light source to produce a Raman scattering spectrum of the irradiated biological. The Raman scattering spectrum is collected and processed to determine the ability of the test biological to react with ligands.

Abstract: A methodology and devices for detecting or monitoring or identifying chemical or microbial analytes are described. The methodology comprises four basic steps: (1) The gas or liquid medium to be monitored or analyzed is brought into contact with a bioconcentrator which is used to bind with or collect and concentrate one or more analytes. (2) The bioconcentrator-analyte complex is then exposed to radiation of one or more predetermined wavelengths to produce Raman scattering spectral bands. (3) At least a portion of the Raman spectral bands are collected and processed by a Raman spectrometer to convert the same into an electrical signal. And (4) the electrical signal is processed to detect and identify, qualitatively and/or quantitatively, the analyte(s).

Abstract: The disclosed methods and devices for detecting or monitoring or identifying substances (such as chemical warfare agents) and residual environmental pollutants (such as pesticides) utilize the discovery that spectra (e.g. infrared absorption spectra) of an uninhibited enzyme (e.g., a cholinesterase) can differ from spectra of the same enzyme which has been complexed with the agent pollutant. For example, the infrared spectrum of uninhibited butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) lacks a distinct absorption peak found at about 1000 cm.sup.-1 in the BuChE-Malathion spectrum. The enzyme is used to collect and concentrate the agent or pollutant, and the resulting complexed enzyme can then be analyzed (e.g., by infrared spectroscopy) and its spectrum compared to an uninhibited enzyme spectrum.