CAREER: Understanding Nanoscale Interactions at Single-Particle and Single-Cell Levels

纳米级的相互作用决定了纳米粒子在环境、生物和医学应用中的安全性和有效性。为了更好地开发纳米粒子在这些应用中的潜力，需要对纳米级相互作用有一个基本的了解。该项目将通过系统地研究纳米颗粒间相互作用、纳米颗粒-细胞相互作用和纳米颗粒细胞内运输，利用独特的生物分析方法，为单颗粒和单细胞水平的纳米级相互作用提供定量的理解。这个项目的潜在科学影响将是为设计更安全、更有效的纳米粒子提供工程指导，通过更深入的定量理解，从而更好地控制纳米尺度的相互作用。核心教育影响是基于生物纳米技术的参与，在俄克拉何马州西南部农村的印第安人和其他服务不足的高中三年级学生通过全年的研究综合教育和推广活动，以激发科学和工程领域的成功职业。纳米颗粒在环境、生物和医学应用中的安全有效使用需要对纳米颗粒与生物介质和系统的相互作用有更好的定量理解。本项目将通过三个研究目标，建立一个新的研究范式，基于独特的无标记和原位定量生物分析方法，系统地研究纳米级相互作用的机制和动力学。在目标1中，纳米颗粒间的相互作用将被量化。纳米粒子与细胞的相互作用将在目标2中进行评估。在目标3中，纳米颗粒细胞内运输将以独特的时空分辨率确定。这些定量和机制研究有可能为纳米颗粒工程提供信息，有效地克服生物障碍，实现安全有效的生物和医学应用。此外，这项研究将有助于更好地定量和机制地理解纳米颗粒环境相互作用和相关的生态效应。通过一个名为俄克拉何马州印第安人生物纳米技术参与（BE4NANO）的独特项目，科学愿景将与印第安人和其他服务不足的高中三年级学生的生物纳米技术参与相结合。与当地印第安部落、公立高中、技术中心和大学联盟合作，将有两个主要的教育目标：(1)通过全年活动让这些学生参与生物纳米技术；(2)在机构内为这些学生建立学术和社会支持网络。通过BE4NANO，高中生将受到启发，考虑成为科学家和工程师。此外，PI将提供支持和鼓励，以最大限度地取得成功，从而增加大学科学、技术、工程和数学专业的印第安学生人数，并将这些学生留在他们的学习项目中。学生将被授权参与和激励他们服务不足的社区的下一代BE4NANO参与者，创造一个积极和包容的反馈循环，以维持这个整体的研究综合教育和推广计划。该项目由化学、生物工程、环境和运输系统（CBET）部门的纳米级相互作用计划和促进竞争研究的既定计划（EPSCoR）共同资助。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Nanoscale interactions determine nanoparticle safety and effectiveness in environmental, biological, and medical applications. To better exploit the potential of nanoparticles for these applications, a fundamental understanding of nanoscale interactions is required. This project will provide a quantitative understanding of nanoscale interactions at single particle and single cell levels by systematically studying inter-nanoparticle interactions, nanoparticle-cell interactions, and nanoparticle intracellular transport using unique bio-analytical methods. The potential scientific impact of this project will be in providing engineering guidelines for the design of safer and more effective nanoparticles made possible by a deeper quantitative understanding, and thus better control, of nanoscale interactions. Core educational impacts are based on bionanotechnology engagement of Native American and other underserved high school juniors in rural Southwest Oklahoma via year-round research-integrated education and outreach activities to inspire successful careers in science and engineering.The safe and effective use of nanoparticles in environmental, biological, and medical applications requires a better quantitative understanding of nanoparticle interactions with biological media and systems. This project will establish a new research paradigm to systematically study the mechanisms and kinetics of nanoscale interactions based on unique label-free and in situ quantitative bio-analytical methods at single particle and single cell levels via three research objectives. In Objective 1, inter-nanoparticle interactions will be quantified. Nanoparticle-cell interactions will be assessed in Objective 2. In Objective 3, nanoparticle intracellular transport will be determined with unique spatiotemporal resolution. These quantitative and mechanistic studies have the potential to inform the engineering of nanoparticles that efficiently overcome biological barriers for safe and effective biological and medical applications. This research will additionally enable a better quantitative and mechanistic understanding of nanoparticle environmental interactions and associated ecological effects. The scientific vision will be integrated with the engagement of Native American and other underserved high school juniors in bionanotechnology via a unique program termed Bionanotechnology Engagement for Native Americans in Oklahoma (BE4NANO). In partnership with local Native American tribes, public high schools, a technology center, and university allies, there will be two primary educational objectives to (i) engage these students in bionanotechnology via year-round activities, and to (ii) create academic and social support networks for these students within the institution. Through BE4NANO, high school students will be inspired to consider careers as scientists and engineers. In addition, the PI will provide support and encouragement to maximize success, thereby increasing the number of Native American students in college science, technology, engineering, and mathematics programs and retaining these students in their programs of study. Students will be empowered to engage and inspire the next generation of BE4NANO participants within their underserved communities, creating a positive and inclusive feedback loop to sustain this holistic research-integrated education and outreach program.This project is jointly funded by the Nanoscale Interactions Program within the Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental and Transport Systems (CBET) Division and the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR).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.