I-Corps: Point-of-use microfluidics-based electrochemical platform for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) detection in source water

这个i-Corps项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是开发一个基于微流体的使用点电化学平台，用于检测水源水中的全氟烷基物质(PFAS)和多氟烷基物质(PFAS)。人类接触全氟辛烷磺酸是一个公共卫生问题。使用点电化学PFAS检测设备的商业化将通过提供现场、成本效益高的便携式技术来检测新出现的污染物，从而显著改善水质。它提供了一个独特的可更换的捕获分子盒系统，该系统与传感器模块无缝集成，以测试污染物目录。该使用点设备可自动进行样品分析，并以易于理解的格式显示实验室质量的结果，从而不再需要笨重的设备、繁琐的样品制备和训练有素的实验室技术人员。这种简单的显示解决了目前市场上可用的PFAS测试的主要问题。此外，该设备将是快速、可靠和经济实惠的，使其非常适合在资源不足或服务不足的地区使用，因为这些地区获得先进设备的机会有限。模块化、快速设备的出现将使研究人员能够快速优化和快速响应。由于传感器可针对各种潜在的污染物、威胁和疾病进行定制，因此它可能会有多种应用。这个i-Corps项目基于快速、灵敏、选择性、现场可部署、基于微流体的、使用点的电化学传感器平台的开发。该平台将非平面交叉电极与微流控通道相结合，填充了一种名为金属-有机骨架的工程纳米多孔材料。与当前一代的电化学生物传感器相比，该平台具有显著的优势。电极的纳米度减轻了非特异性吸附，克服了扩散限制，导致了快速信号采集。微电极的设计导致了高信噪比，从而提高了灵敏度。使用剪切力(使用流量控制)作为调节参数，可以将灵敏度和选择性解耦。该仪器目前对全氟辛烷磺酸(全氟辛烷磺酸)的检测下限为0.5ng/L，远低于美国环保局的健康忠告水平70ng/L或饮用水中的70ppt。最后，开发的传感器的模块化特性允许传感器与捕获分子界面分离。该传感器可以通过包装不同的捕获分子特定材料来轻松改装，以检测饮用水中许多不同的新出现的污染物，如GenX化合物和重金属。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project is the development of a point-of-use, microfluidics-based electrochemical platform for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) detection in source water. Human exposure to PFAS is a public health concern. The commercialization of a point-of-use electrochemical PFAS detection device will significantly improve water quality by providing an on-site, cost-effective portable technology to detect emerging contaminants. It offers a unique replaceable cartridge system of capture molecules that integrates seamlessly with the sensor module to test for a catalog of contaminants. The point-of-use device automates sample analysis and displays lab-quality results in an easily understood format, eliminating the need for bulky equipment, tedious sample preparation, and trained laboratory technicians. This simple display solves major issues of PFAS tests currently available in the market. Additionally, the device will be rapid, reliable, and affordable, making it ideal for use in low-resource or underserved areas with limited access to advanced equipment. The availability of a modular, rapid device will allow researchers to quickly optimize and rapidly respond. As the sensor is tailorable to a variety of potential contaminants, threats, and diseases, it may have multiple applications.This I-Corps project is based on the development of a rapid, sensitive, and selective, field-deployable, microfluidics-based, point-of-use electrochemical sensor platform. The platform integrates non-planar interdigitated electrodes with a microfluidic channel packed with an engineered nanoporous material called metal-organic framework. This platform has significant benefits over the current generation of electrochemical biosensors. Electrode nanoporosity mitigates non-specific adsorption and overcomes diffusion limitations leading to rapid signal acquisition. The microelectrode design results in a high signal-to-noise ratio leading to increased sensitivity. Sensitivity and selectivity can be decoupled using the shear force (controlled using the flow-rate) as a tuning parameter. The device’s current detection limit of 0.5 ng/L for perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is much lower than the US Environmental Protection Agency's health advisory levels of 70 ng/L or 70 ppt in drinking water. Finally, the developed sensor's modular nature allows the sensor to be decoupled from the capture molecule interface. The sensor can be easily adapted by packing different capture molecule-specific materials to detect many different emerging contaminants in drinking water like GenX compounds and heavy metals.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.