Collaborative Research - SST: Integration of Spectroscopic Sensors and Electroactive Nanowell Arrays with Microfluidic Chips Based on Thermocapillary Actuation

提案编号：0529132主要研究者：Sandra Troian单位： Princeton UniversityCollaborative Research - SST：Integration of Spectroscopic Sensors and Electroactive Nanowell Arrays with Microfluidic Chips Based on Thermocillary ActuationMicrofluidic devices for liquid dosing，transfer and mixing are driving innovation in genomic and pharmacology research as well as rapid commercialization of portable kit for home，industrial or military use.这些设备预计将彻底改变便携式化学检测和分析，预计到2010年将产生超过20亿美元的收入。最新的开放格式设备，基于自由表面流，即液-液或气-液界面的驱动，提供了一个特别有吸引力的平台，用于高灵敏度检测吸附物质。这些设备的操作和控制的关键是传感阵列的开发和集成，用于高分辨率，样品位置，体积，温度，速度，成分和分子种类的自主识别。 该研究计划的目标是开发和集成微型光学，光谱和电活性传感器与热流体芯片。该三部分计划包括：（a）集成薄膜波导与开放式流体装置的倏逝波传感的静止或移动的样品，（B）开发一种新型的液芯波导的基础上的热毛细致动的微尺度溪流和（c）开发电活性的生物分子的静电约束和浓度的陷阱。波导传感器将用于监测液滴位置、成分、显色反应的速率常数以及与液体悬浮液中的功能化量子点的结合。额外的信号增强将探索通过倏逝波耦合到芯片表面上制造的微环或微盘谐振器。位于静止或移动液滴下方的电活性微池传感器阵列将允许开发电阻抗光谱技术，用作水性细菌病原体的环境传感器。传感器的开发和优化将通过实验、理论建模和数值模拟进行。 该研究的跨学科性质将允许开发具有集成传感阵列的新型流体芯片，并为学生提供在微尺度传输现象和光子学交叉路口的独特培训，这两个高增长领域具有众多的生物和纳米技术应用。本科生将通过康奈尔大学和普林斯顿大学的NSF REU项目招募，以帮助芯片和半导体制造、简单原型组装和数据分析。学生将接受管理先进光学和电动传感平台的物理和工程原理的培训;他们还将为本科实验室课程和K-12教育开发示范单元。普林斯顿PI将扩大目前的微流体现象课程，包括第二学期的微型设备的传感原理。她还将利用这项研究建立一个新的普林斯顿先进荧光技术中心，这是一个大规模的试点计划，目前正在考虑由新泽西就业增长和经济发展委员会康奈尔PI将设计一个新的课程，面向现代工程和制造技术的光学和光谱传感器的实验室芯片技术。PI将在IEEE Transucers和SPIE光学信息系统会议上联合组织有关光流体和传感的会议。

Proposal Number: 0529132Principal Investigator: Sandra TroianAffiliation: Princeton UniversityCollaborative Research - SST: Integration of Spectroscopic Sensors and Electroactive Nanowell Arrays with Microfluidic Chips Based on Thermocapillary ActuationMicrofluidic devices for liquid dosing, transport and mixing are driving innovation in genomic and pharmaceutical research as well as rapid commercialization of portable kits for home, industrial or military use. Such devices, predicted to revolutionize portable chemical detection and analysis, are expected to generate over 2 billion dollars in income by 2010. The newest open format devices, based on actuation of free surface flows, i.e. liquid-liquid or gas-liquid interfaces, provide an especially attractive platform for highly sensitive detection of adsorbed species. Essential to the operation and control of these devices is development and integration of sensing arrays for high resolution, autonomous identification of sample position, volume, temperature, speed, composition and molecular species. This research program targets the development and integration of miniaturized optical, spectroscopic and electroactive sensors with thermofluidic chips. The three-part program includes (a) integration of thin film waveguides with open fluidic devices for evanescent sensing of stationary or moving samples, (b) development of a novel liquid-core waveguide based on thermocapillary actuation of microscale rivulets and (c) development of electroactive nanowell traps for electrostatic confinement and concentration of biomolecules. The waveguide sensors will be used to monitor droplet location, composition, rate constants for chromogenic reactions, and binding to functionalized quantum dots in a liquid suspension. Additional signal enhancement will be explored through evanescent coupling to micro-ring or micro-disc resonators fabricated on the chip surface. The electroactive nanowell sensor arrays positioned beneath stationary or moving droplets will allow development of an electrical impedance spectroscopic technique for use as an environmental sensor of aqueous borne bacterial pathogens. Sensor development and optimization will proceed through experiment, theoretical modeling and numerical simulations. The broader impacts of this grant are as follows: The interdisciplinary nature of the research will allow development of a novel fluidic chip with integrated sensing arrays and provide students with unique training at the crossroad of microscale transport phenomena and photonics, two high growth areas with numerous applications to bio- and nanotechnology. Undergraduates will be recruited through the NSF REU programs at Cornell and Princeton to aid with chip and nanowell fabrication, assembly of simple prototypes and data analysis. Students will be trained in the physical and engineering principles governing advanced optical and electrokinetic sensing platforms; they will also develop demonstration units for undergraduate lab courses and K-12 education. The Princeton PI will expand a current course on microfluidic phenomena to include a 2nd semester on sensing principles for miniaturized devices. She will also be leveraging this study toward establishment of a new Princeton Center on Advanced Fluidic Technologies, a large scale pilot program currently under consideration by the New Jersey Commission on Jobs Growth and Economic Development The Cornell PI will design a new course geared toward modern engineering and fabrication techniques of optical and spectroscopic sensors for lab-on-a-chip technologies. The PIs will jointly organize sessions on optofluidics and sensing at the IEEE Tranducers and SPIE Optical Information Systems meetings.