US Egypt Cooperative Research: Luminescent Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Sensor Arrays

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

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.