UNS: Effects of Nanostructure on the Performance of Nucleic Acid-Based Electrochemical Biosensors

在这个研究项目中，研究人员将制造具有纳米特征的新型电极，以了解电极上的纳米尺度特征如何增强DNA的灵敏度测量。基础研究可能会开发出更灵敏的DNA电化学生物传感器。如果成功，潜在的应用包括食品安全、水质和医疗诊断。智力优势-中心目标是在生物分子和电化学水平上对工作电极的纳米结构特征和基于核酸的传感器性能进行基础研究。PI将使用自下而上和自上而下的制造方法来创建由金纳米柱和纳米孔组成的多个电极阵列（MEAs）。基于mea的库具有单独可寻址的纳米结构传感器元件，将允许系统的高通量研究结构-性质关系。科学目标将是了解纳米结构几何形状如何影响(a)常见氧化还原报告的电化学活性，(b) DNA探针接枝密度和取向，以及(c)通过确定检测极限、动态范围和目标DNA复杂介质中的选择性来影响传感器性能。此外，纳米多孔金将用于确定更复杂的纳米结构模型系统中的结构-性能关系。期望的结果是揭示一套设计规则的发展纳米结构电化学传感器元件。更广泛的影响：这个项目的更广泛的影响包括社会效益和教育机会。基于mea的纳米结构库将广泛提供给科学界，作为研究许多领域结构-性质关系的多功能工具，包括生物医学设备涂层，催化燃料电池和纳米级基础科学现象。在教育和推广方面，通过与加州大学戴维斯分校生物技术指定重点项目的合作，PI将建立一个在线课程的原型，该课程将微型和纳米制造与生命科学相结合，广泛针对本科生/研究生和工业参与者。重点是设计实用的在线作业，利用研究成果产生的纳米结构与传感器性能关系的新数据。通过竞争性安排，本科生将被鼓励撰写简短的研究建议，以获得在PI实验室的暑期实习机会。本科生将被雇用从事与本提案的科学目标一致的定制项目。

CBET - 1512745 Seker, Erkin In this research project the researchers will fabricate novel electrodes with nanofeatures to understand how nanoscale features on the electrodes enhance sensitive measurement of DNA. The fundamental studies is likely to develop more sensitive electrochemical biosensors for DNA. If successful, potential applications include food safety, water quality and medical diagnostics. Intellectual Merit -The central goal is to conduct fundamental studies to relate nanostructure features on working electrode and nucleic acid-based sensor performance on both biomolecular and electrochemical levels. The PI will use bottom-up and top-down fabrication approaches to create multiple electrode arrays (MEAs) that are composed of building blocks of gold nano-pillars and nano-wells. The MEA-based libraries with individually addressable nanostructured sensor elements will allow for systematic high-throughput studies of structure-property relationships. The scientific goal will be on understanding how nanostructure geometry influences (a) electrochemical activity of common redox reporters, (b) DNA probe grafting density and orientation, and (c) sensor performance by determining detection limit, dynamic range, and selectivity in complex media of target DNA. In addition, nanoporous gold will be used to determine the structure-property relationships in a more complex nanostructured model system. The expected outcome is to reveal a set of design rules for the development of nanostructured electrochemical sensor elements. Broader Impacts : The broader impact of this project encompasses societal benefits and educational opportunities. The MEA-based nanostructure library will be broadly available to the scientific community as a versatile tool for studying structure-property relationships in numerous fields, including biomedical device coatings, catalytic fuel cells, and nano-scale basic science phenomena. On educational and outreach aspects, through an established collaboration with the Designated Emphasis in Biotechnology Program at UC Davis, the PI will prototype an online course that merges micro- and nano-fabrication with life sciences targeted broadly at undergraduate/graduate students and industrial participants. The focus will be in designing practical online assignments that tap into fresh data on nanostructure-sensor performance relationships produced by the research efforts. Through a competitive arrangement undergraduate students will be encouraged to write short research proposals for obtaining a summer internship at the PI's laboratory. Undergraduate students will be employed on customized projects that are consistent with the scientific goals of this proposal.