US Egypt Cooperative Research: Luminescent Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Sensor Arrays

1103904该项目支持南卡罗来纳大学哥伦比亚分校Ken Shimizu博士和埃及伊斯梅利亚苏伊士运河大学Hasan Azab(易卜拉欣)博士的合作研究项目。他们计划研究发光分子印迹聚合物(MIP)传感器阵列，将(1)稀土元素分析配位络合物的选择性发光特性与(2)分子印迹聚合物(MIP)的形状和官能团选择性相结合。智力优势：农药使用量的增加大大提高了作物产量和农业生产率。然而，这也导致了越来越多的水和食品受到农药残留污染的问题。该项目的目标是开发能够识别和测量水中常见农药浓度的发光聚合物传感器阵列。发光印迹聚合物传感器阵列具有货架期长、结果迅速、所需仪器最少的特点。传感器阵列由不同的分子印迹聚合物组成，其中含有稀土元素的结合部位。阵列中的每个聚合物都将在不同的农药或农药类似物存在的情况下合成，这将使传感器阵列能够合理地定制，从而对特定组或类别的分析物具有选择性。由于发光的稀土配位具有高亲和力，并在结合目标分析物时提供非常强烈且易于测量的发射性质变化，因此阵列将具有高度的灵敏度和选择性。这项合作涉及Hassan Azab博士和Ken D.Shimizu博士，前者是稀土发光传感器的合成和表征专家，后者是分子印迹聚合物传感器阵列的合成和分析专家。更广泛的技术影响将是开发新的快速、廉价的水纯度和食品安全监测方法。此外，新的传感平台还可以很容易地改装成针对其他感兴趣的分析物，如药品、环境污染物和疾病指示剂。这一国际合作还将为交流科学专业知识和培训参与其中的研究生提供场所。每月将举行视频会议，让参与者练习他们的陈述和沟通技能，以及交换信息。私人投资机构将在头两年每年互访以协调该项目。这一提议得到了美国-埃及联合基金计划的支持，NSF支持美方，埃及政府资助埃及方面。

1103904 This project supports a cooperative research project by Dr. Ken Shimizu, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC and Dr. Hasan Azab (Ibrahim) of the Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt. They plan to study luminescent molecularly imprinted polymer (MIPs) sensor arrays by combining (1) the selective luminescent properties of lanthanide-analyte coordination complexes with (2) the shape and functional group selectivity of molecular imprint polymers (MIPs).Intellectual Merit: The increasing use of pesticides has led to greatly improved crop yieldsand agricultural productivity. However, this has also lead to the increasing problem of thecontamination of water supplies and food products with pesticide residues. The goal of thisproject is to develop luminescent polymeric sensor arrays that can identify and measure theconcentrations of common pesticides in water. The luminescent imprinted polymer sensor arrayswill have long shelf-lives, yield rapid results, and require minimal of instrumentation.The sensor arrays are comprised of different molecularly imprinted polymers that contain lanthanidebinding sites. Each polymer in the array will be synthesized in the presence of a differentpesticide or pesticide analog, which will allow the sensor arrays to be rationally tailoredwith selectivity to specific groups or classes of analytes. The arrays will be highly sensitiveand selective due to the luminescent lanthanide coordination sites that have high affinityand provide a very strong and easily measured change in emissive properties upon binding thetarget analytes. The collaboration involves DR. Hassan Azab who is an expert on the synthesis and characterization of luminescent lanthanide sensors and Dr. Ken D. Shimizu who is an expertthe synthesis and analysis of molecularly imprinted polymer sensor arrays.Broader Impacts: The technological broader impact will be the development of new rapid andinexpensive methods for monitoring water purity and food safety. In addition, the new sensingplatform can also be readily adapted to target other analytes of interest such as pharmaceuticals,environmental pollutants and disease indicators. This international collaboration will alsoprovide a venue for the exchange of scientific expertise and the training of participatinggraduate students. Monthly video-conferencing meetings will be held to allow participantsto practice their presentation and communication skills, as well as, to exchange information.The PIs will have exchange visits in each of the first two years to coordinate the project.This proposal is supported under the US-Egypt Joint Fund Program where NSF supports the US side and the Government of Egypt funds the Egyptian side.