Collaborative Research: Interactions between Photoreactive 2D Nanomaterials and Biofilms

一个由乔治华盛顿大学和圣母大学的研究人员组成的合作团队正在探索新兴的光反应二维纳米材料之间的相互作用，即，石墨氮化碳和黑磷纳米片，以及通过高度集成和复杂的方法在自然环境中的生物膜。近年来，光反应二维纳米材料因其广泛的工程应用而成为有前途的材料，然而，这些纳米材料的偶然释放和处置可能对环境造成不利影响。这些光反应2D纳米材料的潜在影响目前尚不清楚。研究人员将探索光反应性2D纳米材料对生物膜的影响，这些生物膜在自然环境和生态系统中起着关键作用。光反应性2D纳米材料可以收集和利用可见光到中红外光来产生氧化物质或局部热;因此，这些光反应性2D纳米材料可以通过在光暴露时诱导应力来干扰生物系统。该研究项目将提供对反应材料和生物系统的基本了解，由于这些系统的普遍存在，无论是人造的还是自然发生的，这将是深远的。该研究项目有可能通过改进多尺度，合理，功能设计来改变材料开发，并将对纳米技术，生物工程，材料科学与工程以及环境工程做出重大贡献。该项目将为科学和工程领域的学生提供培训，为他们提供实践研究经验，并向来自不同背景和教育水平的学生，特别是来自代表性不足群体的学生介绍科学和工程领域的前沿研究。此外，该项目将通过教育模块、科学期刊和会议以及科学博览会传播所获得的知识。研究团队旨在了解新兴的光反应二维纳米材料（即，石墨碳氮化物和黑磷纳米片）和生物膜在自然环境中通过纳米材料、生物材料和计算表征。拟议的研究将采用多方面的方法，结合（i）光反应2D纳米材料的合成和表征，（ii）生物膜响应光反应2D纳米材料的化学和生物学表征，以及（iii）光反应2D纳米材料的老化及其对生物膜的影响。该研究将产生纳米材料特性，生物膜化学成分和生物基因调控之间的相关性，以及暴露于光反应性2D纳米材料后生物膜的发展和消除。该研究项目还将开发具有生物膜的光反应2D纳米材料的机械理解，并将确定化学反应或生物法规是否控制生物膜行为。此外，这项研究还将深入了解复杂的自然水环境和随之而来的光反应纳米材料的转化以及对生物系统的后续影响。该项目将为科学和工程领域的学生提供培训，并为他们提供纳米技术，生物工程，环境工程和微生物学方面的实践研究经验。该项目还将向来自代表性不足群体的学生以及来自不同背景和教育水平的学生介绍尖端的科学和工程研究。此外，该项目将传播所获得的知识，以帮助提高公众的科学素养。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并已被认为是值得支持的评估使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准。

A collaborative team consisting of researchers from The George Washington University and the University of Notre Dame is exploring the interplay between emerging photoreactive 2D nanomaterials, i.e., graphitic carbon nitride and black phosphorus nanosheets, and biofilms in natural environment through a highly integrated and sophisticated approach. Photoreactive 2D nanomaterials have emerged as promising materials in recent years for their broad engineering applications, however, incidental release and disposal of these nanomaterials could pose adverse impacts on the environment. Potential impacts of these photoreactive 2D nanomaterials is currently unknown. The investigators will explore the effects of photoreactive 2D nanomaterials on biofilms that play a critical role in the natural environment and ecological systems. The photoreactive 2D nanomaterials can harvest and utilize visible to mid-infrared light to produce oxidative species or localized heat; therefore, these photoreactive 2D nanomaterials could interfere with biological systems by inducing stresses upon light exposure. This research project will provide fundamental understanding of reactive materials and biological systems, which will be far reaching due to the ubiquitous presence of such systems, both man-made and naturally occurring. This research project has the potential to be transformative for material development through the improvement of multiscale, rational, functional design, and it will contribute significantly to nanotechnology, biological engineering, materials science and engineering, and environmental engineering. The project will provide training to students in science and engineering areas and offer them hands-on research experience, and introduce students from diverse backgrounds and educational levels, particularly those from underrepresented groups, to cutting-edge research in science and engineering. In addition, the project will disseminate the acquired knowledge through education modules, scientific journals and conferences, and science fairs.The research team aims to understand the interplay between emerging photoreactive 2D nanomaterials (i.e., graphitic carbon nitride and black phosphorus nanosheets) and biofilms in natural environment through nanomaterial, biomaterial, and computational characterizations. The proposed research will employ a multi-faceted approach that combines (i) synthesis and characterization of photoreactive 2D nanomaterials, (ii) chemical and biological characterizations of biofilms in response to photoreactive 2D nanomaterials, and (iii) ageing of photoreactive 2D nanomaterials and the resultant impacts on biofilms. The research will generate correlations between nanomaterial properties, biofilm chemical compositions and biological gene regulations, and biofilm development and elimination upon exposure to photoreactive 2D nanomaterials under light exposure. The research project will also develop a mechanistic understanding of the photoreactive 2D nanomaterials with biofilms and will determine whether chemical reactions or biological regulations controls biofilm behaviors. In addition, this research will also provide insights into the complex natural aquatic environment and the attendant transformation of photoreactive nanomaterials and subsequent impacts on biological systems. The project will provide training to students in science and engineering areas, and offer them hands-on research experience in nanotechnology, biological engineering, environmental engineering, and microbiology. The project will also introduce students from underrepresented groups and students from diverse backgrounds and educational levels to cutting-edge science and engineering research. Moreover, the project will disseminate the acquired knowledge to help increase the scientific literacy of the general public.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.