PFI:AIR - TT: Commercialization of Nanomembrane-based SERS sensors

PFI:AIR - TT：基于纳米膜的 SERS 传感器的商业化

• 批准号: 1601850
• 负责人: James McGrath
• 金额: $ 19.94万
• 依托单位: University of Rochester
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2016
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2016-05-01 至 2018-10-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1601850&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: PFI; AIR; TT; Commercialization; Nanomembrane

This PFI: AIR Technology Translation project focuses on translating a novel photonic material with exceptional molecular recognition capabilities. Current molecular sensors are complex, expensive and suffer from limited reproducibility and scalability. These facts have hampered the adoption of molecular sensors despite immense industrial and scientific interest from the fields of forensics, toxicology, and biomedicine. Highly scalable and inexpensive, SERF (Sensitive Erasable Reproducible Flow-through) sensors will lead to an era of ubiquitous molecular identification devices for diverse applications such as biometric and health screening, trace hazard detection (biohazards, toxins, drugs, and explosive residues), and chemical quality control. In addition to affordable manufacturing, the SERF technology has a 7 fold higher sensitivity and greater uniformity than the leading commercial substrate (Klarite(TM); Renishaw Inc.). The SERF sensor also has first-of-a-kind capabilities in flow-through detection and surface cleaning for reuse. The project will identify the most commercially viable molecular target for the SERF sensor and optimize the material and a prototype for the detection of this molecule. This project addresses several technology gaps as it translates a laboratory discovery into a commercial application. First, composed of a high density of optically responsive nanopores rather than the low-density micropatterned features, the SERF sensor improves both the sensitivity and uniformity of detection compared to the leading photonic-based sensors. Second, as a porous structure the SERF technology allows sample flow through the sensor, overcoming diffusion limited response times that are impractical (days) for trace molecules with existing sensors. Finally, the SERF sensor can be reused or cleaned with the application of a small current through its contiguous metallic surface. This feature can be used to reset sensors and to overcome performance loss due to fouling. The project brings together a world-leading nanomembrane manufacturer (Roussie Co-PI; SiMPore Inc.) with a leading nanomembrane research laboratory (McGrath PI; University of Rochester) and world-class experts in photonics (Webb Co-PI; Nottingham University) to translate a novel laboratory discovery toward commercial impact in industries that improve human welfare. A University of Rochester graduate student and co-inventor of the SERF technology will receive hands on entrepreneurship training by working with PIs and Co-PIs in customer discovery interviews and in the development of a business model canvas.

该PFI：空气技术翻译项目的重点是翻译具有特殊分子识别能力的新型光子材料。当前的分子传感器很复杂，昂贵且可重复性和可伸缩性有限。尽管从法医，毒理学和生物医学领域中，这些事实仍阻碍了分子传感器的采用。高度可扩展且廉价的农奴（敏感的可擦除可重复的流通式流通）传感器将导致无处不在的分子识别设备的时代，用于多种应用，例如生物识别和健康筛查，痕量危险检测（生物危害，毒素，药物，药物和爆炸性残留物）以及化学质量质量控制。除了负担得起的制造业外，农奴技术还比领先的商业基板（Klarite（TM）； Renishaw Inc.）更高灵敏度和更高的均匀性。农奴传感器在流通检测和表面清洁方面还具有首先的功能以进行重复使用。该项目将确定农奴传感器的商业上最可行的分子靶标，并优化检测该分子的材料和原型。该项目解决了几个技术差距，因为它将实验室发现转化为商业应用程序。首先，与主要的基于光子的传感器相比，SELF传感器由高密度的高密度响应式纳米孔而不是低密度的微图案特征组成。其次，作为一种多孔结构，农奴技术允许样品流过传感器，克服了扩散限制的响应时间，而响应时间是与现有传感器的微量分子不切实际（天）。最后，通过将小电流通过其连续的金属表面施加，可以将农奴传感器重复使用或清洁。此功能可用于重置传感器并克服由于结垢而导致的性能损失。 该项目汇集了一个世界领先的纳米膜制造商（Roussie Co-Pi; Simpore Inc.）以及领先的纳米膜研究实验室（McGrath Pi; Rochester; Rochester of Rochester）以及光子学的世界一流专家（Webb Co-Pi; Nottingham University），以将新型实验室发现转移到工业人工中，以改善人类的商业影响。罗切斯特大学的研究生和农奴技术的共同发明者将通过与PIS和Co-PIS合作进行客户发现访谈和开发商业模式帆布，从而获得企业家培训。