EAGER: Nanoparticle-Based Integrated Microsystem for Selective Targeting of Bio-Species in Flowing Suspensions

本研究的目的是开发一种高性能的系统，以针对个别生物物种显着增强的特异性和灵敏度。该方法是基于利用智能纳米粒子，封装各种化学品，并配备了归巢功能，以提供一种高效率的有效载荷在纳米级的精确点交付的车辆。目前的系统利用特异性非常低的药物，导致严重的副作用和不良的系统反应。有机-无机纳米粒子将被抗体功能化，以特异性结合在复杂混合物中流动的循环肿瘤细胞，以改善系统性能。智力价值在于选择性捕获稀有移动生物靶标的目标，这仍然是一个巨大的工程挑战。将靶向在血流中循环的转移性癌细胞。为了应对这一挑战，使用独特的跨膜细胞-细胞粘附分子作为受体。这种纳米粒子上的抗体具有脂质体双层结构和硅酸盐表面，可以作为归巢配体选择性地与靶细胞受体结合。该项目可能会产生重大影响，因为所提出的方法不仅可以用于疾病的检测，还可以用于疾病的诊断、监测和治疗。在护理点采用的具有增强特异性的自动化免疫测定将提高患者治疗的功效，帮助根除癌症等疾病。拟议的项目直接支持目前正在开发的Bio-MEMS教育计划;它通过为学生提供进行先进的跨学科研究的机会来整合劳动力发展。还将安排K-12和一般社区的科学教育外展。

The objective of this research is to develop a high-performance system to target individual bio-species with dramatically enhanced specificity and sensitivity. The approach is based on utilizing smart nanoparticles, encapsulating various chemicals and equipped with homing features, to provide a vehicle for pin-point delivery of payloads at a nanoscale with high efficiency. Current systems utilize drugs with very low specificity resulting in serious side effects and poor system response. Organic-inorganic nanoparticles will be functionalized with antibodies for specific binding to circulating tumor cells flowing in complex mixtures to improve the system performance.The intellectual merit lies in the goal of selectively capturing a rare moving bio target that is still a tremendous engineering challenge. Metastatic cancer cells circulating in the blood stream will be targeted. To meet this challenge, unique trans-membrane cell-cell adhesion molecules are used as receptors. The antibodies on the hybrid nanoparticles, having a liposomal bilayer structure and a silicate surface, are used as homing ligands for selective binding to the target cell receptors.The project could have a major impact by applying the proposed methodologies not only to detection but also diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of diseases. An automated immunoassay employed at the point-of-care with enhanced specificity will increase the efficacy of patient treatment helping eradicate diseases such as cancer. The proposed project directly supports the Bio-MEMS educational program currently under development; it incorporates workforce development by providing an opportunity for students to carry out advanced interdisciplinary research. Science education outreach for K-12 and general communities will also be arranged.