SBIR Phase I: Label-free, raman-on-chip sensor for single molecule analysis of biotoxins in fresh water

这个小企业创新研究第一阶段项目旨在开发一种新型的纳米设备，用于无标签检测和识别单个、个体（生物）分子。为低成本、可靠地制备等离子体纳米结构集成的微纳流控电路，开发了一种独特的纳米制造技术。这些成分的成功结合将允许在纳米尺度上限制光和液体，从而允许表征沿等离子体热点一个接一个流动的单个分子。这项技术将使单分子的检测和鉴定取得突破，通过消除标记的需要，大大简化了样品制备。第一阶段的工作将集中在使用纳米通道/纳米天线系统来检测微小体积（10^-21 L）物质的拉曼信号。这将作为开发一个完全集成的系统的基础，该系统具有芯片上读出功能，可在第二阶段检测淡水中的毒素。这个项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力在于传感器的新颖性和多功能性，它将能够检测、区分和分析单个分子，而不需要标签。此外，该系统将是便携式的，与片上读出功能完全集成，并且需要非常小的样本量（在几微升的数量级）。第一个目标市场是用于水控制的环境监测：该设备将用于实时检测淡水中毒素的浓度，并跟踪它们随时间的演变。一旦便携式芯片上单个生物分子的无标签检测和识别得到证实，其应用将扩展到生物医学和护理点市场。第一阶段的研究结果将为制造各种完全集成的、超灵敏的、便携式的、无标签的生物传感器开辟一条新的途径。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project aims to develop a novel type of nanodevice for label-free detection and identification of single, individual (bio)molecules. A unique nanomanufacturing technology has been developed for low-cost and reliable fabrication of micro/nanofluidic circuitry integrated with plasmonic nanostructures. Successful combination of these components will allow the confinement of light and liquid at the nanoscale, allowing the characterization of individual molecules flowing one-by-one along a plasmonic hot spot. This technology will enable a breakthrough in the detection and identification of single molecules, drastically simplifying the sample preparation by removing the need for labeling. The Phase I work will focus on the use of the nanochannel/nanoantenna system to detect the Raman signal of substances confined in tiny volumes (10^-21 L). This will serve as the basis for the development of a fully integrated system with on-chip read out capabilities for detection of toxins in fresh water in Phase II.The broader impact/commercial potential of this project lies in the novelty and versatility of the sensor, which will be able to detect, discriminate and analyze individual molecules without the need for labels. Even further, the system will be portable, fully integrated with on-chip read out capabilities, and will require very small sample volumes (on the order of a few microliters). The first market to be targeted is environmental monitoring for water control: the device will be used to detect in real time the concentration of toxins in fresh water, and to track their evolution over time. Once the label-free detection and identification of single biomolecules on a portable chip is demonstrated, the applications will be expanded to the biomedical and point-of-care markets. The results of the research in Phase I will open a new route for the fabrication of a large variety of fully-integrated, ultrasensitive, portable, label-free biosensors.