CAREER: Nano-Tip Sensor for Rapid Detection of Dissolved DNA for Environmental Monitoring

项目概述：用于环境监测的溶解DNA快速检测的纳米尖端传感器“该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。”环境监测的关键挑战之一是快速检测溶解的DNA。与正常细胞中的染色体DNA不同，溶解在湖泊或土壤中的细胞外DNA提供了病原体和毒素的重要信息，这是环境分子生物学领域的重要研究方向。然而，目前的方法不能直接检测溶解的DNA，这导致了致病信息的丢失。提出的研究的目的是证明一个纳米结构的尖端检测溶解的DNA没有扩增和标记。智力优势：这项工作的目标在于利用电场、表面化学和毛细作用来增强DNA在纳米尖上的特异性和非特异性结合动力学的基础研究。机电浓缩机制结合表面化学消除了繁琐的样品制备步骤，加速了分子结合动力学。此外，尖端的纳米级尺寸使得对低浓度DNA的高灵敏度电检测成为可能。这种纳米尖端传感器的独特机制允许在物理尺寸、表面化学和电学性质方面进行分子操作。因此，对尖端传感器稍加修改，就可以通过免疫分析或on？提示浓缩。因此，拟议的工作将为环境监测和疾病诊断培养下一代变革性技术的新时代。更广泛的影响：通过拟议的工作，可以实现前所未有的筛选系统。纳米探针的筛选能力可以直接识别细菌和基因，从而影响环境监测和疾病诊断。快速检测（例如10分钟）避免了遗传信息的丢失，这将有可能揭示生态系统中DNA的路径。该传感器还可用于检测循环DNA，用于疾病诊断。因此，建议的工作直接影响医疗保健监测。拟议的教育项目将利用华盛顿大学机械工程系（ME）和纳米技术中心（CNT）的现有项目。这项教育计划将惠及本科生、研究生、社区学院、少数族裔、K？[12]与外国学生通过课程开发、湖水实地实践、虚拟实验室、外展活动以及分享研究和教育材料的计划。

PROJECT SUMMARYCAREER: Nano Tip Sensor for Rapid Detection of Dissolved DNA for Environmental Monitoring"This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5)."One of the critical challenges in environmental monitoring is the detection of dissolved DNA rapidly. Unlike chromosomal DNA in normal cells, the extracellular DNA dissolved in lakes or soil provides critical information of pathogens and toxins, which is of great interest in the field of environmental molecular biology. The current methods, however, are not able to directly detect the dissolved DNA, which causes the loss of the pathogenic information. The objective of the proposed research is to demonstrate a nanostructured tip detecting dissolved DNA without amplification and labeling. Intellectual merit:The goal of the proposed work lies in the fundamental study about the enhancement of specific and nonspecific binding kinetics of DNA onto a nanotip using an electric field, surface chemistry, and capillary action. The electromechanical concentration mechanism in conjunction with surface chemistry eliminates cumbersome sample preparation steps and accelerates molecular binding kinetics. In addition, the nanoscale dimension of a tip renders highly sensitive electrical detection of low concentration DNA. This unique mechanism of a nanotip sensor allows for molecular manipulation in terms of physical size, surface chemistry, and electrical properties. Thus, the slight modification of the tip sensor enables rapid screening of other bacterial cells and viral particles through immunoassay or on?]tip enrichment. Therefore, the proposed work will cultivate a new era of the next generation transformative technology for environmental monitoring and disease diagnostics. Broader Impacts: Through the proposed work an unprecedented screening system can be achieved. The screening capability of a nanotip sensor can directly identify bacteria and genes, which impacts environmental monitoring and disease diagnostics. Rapid detection (e.g. 10minutes) avoids the loss of the genetic information, which will potentially reveal the paths of DNA in ecosystem. This sensor can also be applied to detect circulating DNA for disease diagnostics. Thus the proposed work directly impacts healthcare monitoring. The proposed education program will leverage the existing programs in the Mechanical Engineering (ME) Department and the Center for Nanotechnology (CNT) at University of Washington. The educational plan will benefit undergraduate, graduate, community college, minority, K?]12, and foreign students through course development, a field practice for lake water, virtual laboratory, outreach activities, and sharing plans of research and education materials.