Design and Surface Engineering of Nanofiber-based Probes

纳米纤维探针的设计和表面工程

• 批准号: 0826067
• 负责人: Konstantin Kornev
• 金额: $ 25万
• 依托单位: Clemson University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2008
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2008-08-15 至 2012-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0826067&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Design; Surface; Engineering; Nanofiber; based

Much of the success of nanoscale bioengineering relies on the development of new tools for probing minute amounts of liquids. Testing biofluids from and operation on individual cells, probing biofluids from primitive organisms ranging in size from fractions of microns to tens of microns, probing physiological fluids from secretory glands and microcapillaries, and collecting probes for forensic analyses are only a few examples of procedures in which nanoneedles and nanochannels are necessary instruments. In general, fibers with hierarchical pore structure are important in applications where liquid collection, transport, and analysis are performed on the same sample. Materials for these probes are required to have superior absorbency, controlled retention/extraction ability, and sufficient stiffness. To address these problems, we propose to develop one-dimensional probes with core-sheath morphology. We employ nanofiber yarns as cores. These yarns guarantee exceptional absorption and retention ability due to strong capillary action. As sheaths we suggest different materials with the common characteristic that the proposed sheaths effectively support liquid transport and provide sufficient stiffness. We also propose to graft the interior of the probe core with thermally responsive polymers. When slightly heated, the nanopores will decrease the level of hydrophilicity and push the liquid out of the pores. Therefore, the tested liquid will be released. In general, the results of this project are expected to set the basis for the design of novel fiber-based probes (organic and inorganic) employing high permeability contrast (nanometer and micrometer-diameter pores) and wettability stimulation (switching from hydrophilic to hydrophobic). The deliverables include a catalog of fundamental parameters and basic absorption and transport mechanisms analyzed through modeling and experiments, technological tricks and prototypes of materials and probing devices, documentation of research results, and engineering student educations. Involvement of the brightest high-school, undergraduate, and graduate students in modern surface and nanotechnology research is considered an important mission of this project. As the project progresses, we plan to develop new courses for graduate students and disseminate the results through many industrial partners.

纳米级生物工程的成功在很大程度上依赖于用于探测微量液体的新工具的开发。测试来自单个细胞的生物液并在其上操作，探测从几微米到几十微米大小的原始生物体的生物液，探测分泌腺和微血管的生理液，以及收集用于法医分析的探针，这些只是纳米针和纳米通道是必要工具的程序的几个例子。一般而言，具有分级孔结构的纤维在对同一样品进行液体收集、传输和分析的应用中非常重要。这些探头的材料要求具有良好的吸水性、可控的保留/提取能力和足够的硬度。为了解决这些问题，我们建议开发具有芯鞘形态的一维探针。我们使用纳米纤维纱线作为芯子。由于强大的毛细作用，这些纱线保证了出色的吸收和保持能力。作为护套，我们建议使用不同的材料，这些材料具有共同的特点，即所建议的护套有效地支持液体传输并提供足够的刚度。我们还建议在探头核心内部接枝热响应性聚合物。当微热时，纳米孔会降低亲水性，并将液体推出毛孔。因此，被测试的液体将被释放。总体而言，该项目的结果有望为新型光纤探针(有机和无机)的设计奠定基础，该探针采用高渗透性对比度(纳米和微米直径的孔)和润湿性刺激(从亲水性转变为疏水性)。交付成果包括通过建模和实验分析的基本参数和基本吸收和传输机制的目录，材料和探测设备的技术诀窍和原型，研究结果的文档，以及工程专业学生的教育。让最聪明的高中生、本科生和研究生参与现代表面和纳米技术研究被认为是这个项目的重要使命。随着项目的进展，我们计划为研究生开发新的课程，并通过许多行业合作伙伴传播结果。