RUI: Xerogel-Based Amperometric Biosensors Incorporating Nanoparticle Networks - Adaptable Templates for Clinically Relevant Measurements

在化学系高分子、超分子和纳米化学计划的资助下，里士满大学的Michael C.Leopold教授正在研究材料和策略，以开发包含纳米材料的临床相关传感器。作为传感器中的一个组成部分，金属纳米颗粒(NPs)网络可以提高性能，包括提高灵敏度和响应时间。纳米材料使传感设备微型化，使先进技术能够直接应用于针电极--一种可植入或床边设备的传感器几何结构。更好地了解传感方案中的NP网络，可以制定针对分子的传感器设计策略，这些分子在急诊室和产科病房环境中充当诊断标记，在这些环境中，实时、连续的监测将是最有益的。具有NP网络的生物传感计划分别检测乳酸和尿酸，与严重疾病、败血症和妊娠高血压综合征的诊断/监测有关的化合物，是一个重点。该奖项还支持全浸入式本科生研究指导，以及与数学科学创新中心的持续外展伙伴关系，向6-12年级的教师和学生介绍纳米技术。这项研究试图识别和理解安培生物传感器方案中的关键结构-功能关系，其中包括金属纳米颗粒(NP)，从而建立对NP的机械作用的更好理解。第一代基于干凝胶的电流型葡萄糖生物传感器作为模型系统，其特点是复合干凝胶/酶膜嵌入了硫醇保护的金纳米颗粒或单层保护的簇(MPC)网络。从MPC表面化学到干凝胶的硅烷前体，系统地研究了薄膜的每个成分，以阐明NPs和干凝胶结构在传感机制中的作用。这些发现促使合理设计具有潜在体外或体内能力的针或线电极几何形状的NP辅助生物传感方案，这些几何形状也对临床相关和化学上不同的物种具有选择性。

Funded by the Macromolecular, Supramolecular, and Nanochemistry Program in the Division of Chemistry, Professor Michael C. Leopold at the University of Richmond, is investigating materials and strategies for the development of clinically relevant sensors that incorporate nanomaterials. As a component within sensors, networks of metallic nanoparticles (NPs) elicit improved performance, including enhanced sensitivity and response time. Nanomaterials enable miniaturization of sensing devices, allowing advances to be directly applied to needle electrodes - a sensor geometry amenable to implantable or bedside devices. Greater understanding of NP networks within sensing schemes, allow for the formulation of sensor design strategies targeting molecules that serve as diagnostic markers in emergency room and maternity ward settings, where real time, continuous monitoring would be most beneficial. Biosensing schemes with NP networks that detect lactic and uric acid, compounds linked to diagnosis/monitoring of serious medical conditions, sepsis and pregnancy-induced hypertension, respectively, are a focus. This award is also supporting full immersion undergraduate research mentoring and a continuing outreach partnership with the Math Science Innovation Center to introduce nanotechnology to teachers and students of grades 6-12. This research seeks to identify and understand critical structure-function relationships within amperometric biosensor schemes that incorporate metallic nanoparticles (NPs), establishing greater understanding of the NP's mechanistic role. First generation, xerogel-based amperometric glucose biosensors serve as model systems that feature composite xerogel/enzyme films embedded with a network of alkanethiolate-protected gold NPs or monolayer-protected clusters (MPCs). Each component of the film, from MPC surface chemistry to the xerogel's silane precursor, is systematically examined to elucidate both the NPs and xerogel structural role in the sensing mechanism. Those findings prompt rational design of NP-assisted biosensing schemes at "needle" or wire electrode geometries with potential in-vitro or in-vivo capability that are also selective for clinically relevant and chemically diverse species.