NSF/CONACyT: Ultrasound Stimulated Reactions With Quantum Dots for Luminescent Biomarkers

该项目解决了创新解决方案的基本需求，以开发超声刺激沉积纳米颗粒或量子点（QDs）的新工艺，如用于早期癌症检测的生物标记发光板。本研究的目的是通过提高量子点的发光效率和改进面板的制造方法来改善生物标记面板的性能。这项工作将集中在利用超声处理（UST）应用于新一代发光纳米粒子的实验方法的关键方面，这些纳米粒子具有由粒径、形状和表面控制的光学特性。量子点在生物医学应用方面非常有前景，因为它们在稳定性、颜色可持续性和易于控制方面优于传统的有机染料。UST将用于(a)通过在平板基底上沉积过程中施加超声波来致密化和均匀分布生物共轭量子点，(b)通过提高发光效率来完成纳米颗粒材料本身的缺陷工程，以及(c)调整纳米颗粒的尺寸和尺寸分布。完成后，该项目将受益并促进最先进的纳米制造方法在癌症预防研究和使用超声波的诊所。该项目是NSF-CONACyT合作项目，由南佛罗里达大学（USF, Sergei Ostapenko）、加州大学圣克鲁斯分校（UCSC, Jin Z. Zhang）和墨西哥国立理工学院（NPI, Tetyana V. Torchynska）组成。USF团队（S. Ostapenko）提供基于电子材料/设备超声处理的实验方法的访问和专业知识。专利的UST设备是不可商用的，并提出了最先进的研究工具。张博士（UCSC）一直积极参与掺杂和未掺杂半导体纳米颗粒在生物医学应用中的合成、表征和开发。墨西哥的团队在发光纳米材料的理论建模和诊断方面经验丰富，包括量子点、量子线和纳米晶体。该计划将对大学和社会产生更广泛的影响。它将有助于进一步发展大学的基础设施，以建立一个强大的纳米制造研究项目。该项目通过莫菲特癌症中心的研究人员参与，在学术界（美国和墨西哥）和生物学和医学专业人员之间开展国际和跨学科合作。NSF-CONACyT项目中研究人员和研究生的交流将有力地促进先进知识的相互转移，促进学生的培训和教育。计划让本科生，特别是妇女和代表性不足的少数民族，积极参与该项目。大学最近建立了一种机制，让高中教师和K-12学生参与教师研究经验（RET）和K-12项目的实验室研究。预计将在参与机构之间进行后续的实验方法转让。将在相关期刊和会议论文集上提交联合出版物，包括NSF受资助者会议。

The program addresses fundamental needs for an innovative solution to developing a new process for ultrasonically stimulated deposition of nanoparticles or quantum dots (QDs) on flat substrates such as bio-marker luminescent panels for early cancer detection. The objective of the proposed research is to improve the performance of bio-marker panels by increasing the luminous efficiency of the QDs and enhancing the methods for panel fabrication. The work will focus on the key aspects of the experimental approach utilizing ultrasound treatment (UST) applied to a new generation of luminescence nanoparticles with optical properties controlled by the particle size, shape, and surface. QDs are highly promising for biomedical application because of the advantages they offer over conventional organic dyes in terms stability, color tenability, and ease of control. UST will be used (a) to densify and homogeneously distribute the bio-conjugated QDs by applying ultrasound during deposition onto the flat substrates, (b) to accomplish defect engineering of nanoparticle material itself by enhancing luminous efficiency, and (c) to adjust the size and size distribution of nanoparticles. Upon completion, the program will benefit and promote state-of-the-art nano-manufacturing approach in cancer prevention research and clinics using ultrasound. The project is designed as an NSF-CONACyT collaborative program between research teams University of South Florida (USF, Sergei Ostapenko), University of California at Santa Cruz (UCSC, Jin Z. Zhang) and National Polytechnic Institute of Mexico (NPI, Tetyana V. Torchynska). The USF team (S. Ostapenko) offers access and expertise in experimental methodology based on the ultrasound processing of electronic materials/devices. The patented UST apparatus is not available commercially and presents a state-of-the-art research tool. Dr. Zhang (UCSC) has been actively involved in the synthesis, characterization, and exploitation of applications of doped and undoped semiconductor nanoparticles for biomedical applications. The group in Mexico is experienced in theoretical modeling and diagnostics of luminescent nanomaterials including quantum dots, quantum wires, and nanocrystals.The program will have broader impact to universities and society. It will assist in further developing the university infrastructure toward a goal of building a strong research program in nano-manufacturing. The program features international and interdisciplinary collaboration among researchers in academia (USA and Mexico) and professionals in biology and medicine through participation of researchers in Moffitt Cancer Center. The exchange of research personnel and graduate students within the NSF-CONACyT program will strongly facilitate mutual transfer of advanced knowledge and promote student training and education. Strong undergraduate student involvement in the project is planned, particularly women and underrepresented minorities. Universities have recently established a mechanism to involve high-school teachers and K-12 students to the research performed in the labs within Research Experience for Teachers (RET) and GK-12 programs. A follow-up transfer of experimental methods among the participating institutions is anticipated. Joint publications in referred journals and conference proceedings will be submitted, including NSF grantees' conference.