SENSORS:Design and Development of Remote Addressable Sensor Arrays for Toxic Agent Detection

该团队由西北大学（NU）、田纳西大学（UT）和加州大学伯克利分校（UCB）在材料科学、生物学和工程学方面的不同但互补的专业知识组成。我们将共同采用内部开发的方法，将高灵敏度微悬臂传感器元件与微电子平台集成，包括射频远程寻址能力，以及真正创新的生化受体，以增加区分选择性-特别是对神经毒剂和有毒化学物质。我们雄心勃勃的目标是至少接近一个完整的交钥匙系统，包括完全集成的技术，能够监测危险环境，并对威胁进行自动决策输出。拟研究的技术目标包括：1。设计和开发远程集成压电- mos（金属氧化物半导体）悬臂纳米传感器阵列，用于十亿分之一（ppb）或万亿分之一（ppt）水平的多路有毒生化传感，或者如果可能的话。2 .基于光学检测的多路生物分子受体鉴定与优化；3 .高特异性肉毒杆菌神经毒素（BoNT）和沙林神经毒气检测方法的开发和验证。一个完整的集成传感器系统的概念验证演示。从本质上讲，该研究定义了集成传感器技术的新范式，并可能为这一重要领域提供急需的“向前迈出的一大步”。我们建议将研究与有效的教育/推广结合起来，不仅针对研究生/博士后，也针对本科生和整个社会，例如：1 .承诺通过与HBCU学校的联系，加强少数民族学生的奖学金体验，特别是在所有三所机构的暑期实习项目。承诺与女工程师协会协调，通过真正的招聘努力提高妇女参与。我们力争实现50%的女科学家/工程师参与该计划。3 .利用“材料世界模块（MWM）”项目（与南京大学张博教授合作）在全国高中推广。“集成纳米传感器”的公开展示模块，在芝加哥科学与工业博物馆，与正在进行的NSF-NSEC在西北大学的推广计划协调。

The proposed team comprises of diverse yet complementary expertise in materials science, biology and engineering, at Northwestern University (NU), University of Tennessee (UT) and UC Berkeley (UCB). Together, we will employ an in-house developed approach for integration of high sensitivity micro-cantilever sensor elements with microelectronics platform, including RF remote addressability, in conjunction with truly innovative biochemical receptors to add discriminating selectivity- especially for nerve agents and toxic chemicals. Our ambitious aim is to at least approach a complete turn-key system consisting of fully integrated technologies, capable of monitoring hazardous environment, and automated decision output for the threat.The technical objectives of the proposed research include:1. Design and development of remote integrated piezo-MOS (metal oxide semiconductor) cantilever based nanosensor arrays for multiplexed toxic biochemical sensing at parts- per-billion (ppb) or parts-per-trillion (ppt) levels, or better if possible,2. Identification/optimization of multiplexed biomolecular receptors via optical detection,3. Development and validation of highly specific methods for the detection of botulinum neurotoxins (BoNT) and Sarin nerve gas.4. Proof-of-concept demonstration of a complete and integrated sensor system.The proposed research, in essence, defines a new paradigm in integrated sensor technology, and may provide that much needed "giant step forward" for this important field.A concerted effort is proposed to couple research with effective education/outreach for not only graduate students/postdocs, but also undergraduate students and society at-large, such as:1. A commitment to enhance scholarship experience for minority students via liaison with HBCU schools, especially for summer internship program at all three institutions.2. A pledge to enhance women participation via genuine recruiting effort, coordinated with the Society for Women Engineers (SWE). We seek to achieve 50% participation of women scientists/engineers in this program.3. Leveraging the proven and successful "Materials World Modules (MWM)" program (collaboration with Prof. Bob Chang, NU) for nation-wide high school dissemination.4. Public display module of if "Integrated Nanosensors", at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry, in coordination with the ongoing NSF-NSEC outreach initiative at NU.