MCA: Precision Electrospinning Training to Enhance Electrokinetic Filtration and Spectroscopy

该补助金支持开发先进的过滤器制造技术的研究，这些技术将应用于制造增强型过滤器。研究人员将接受静电纺丝的培训，这是一种结合流体动力和电力产生纳米纤维网的技术。更具体地说，静电纺丝使研究人员能够开发出一种高质量均匀纤维的异质网络，其组成将促进过滤的发展。纤维网将包括导电和绝缘纤维的网络，当通电时，该网络将产生将显著增强颗粒捕集能力的强电力。此外，这种独特的纤维网络可以应用于各种学科，包括生物细胞和纳米颗粒的受控高通量分选。这种特殊的纤维网络将导致智能过滤，流体输送和传热的进步，从而导致影响美国经济和社会的技术进步。候选人的静电纺丝培训将对他所在机构正在进行的多学科研究项目和肯塔基州内的制造业利益产生直接影响。获得的知识将被转移到当地社区：研究人员将开发实践活动，创建一个新的多学科课程，并让高中生参与他们的研究工作。研究目标是制造一个高通量的介电泳纳米纤维为基础的颗粒分选机;这将是可能的，通过开发一个异质纤维垫，包含导电和绝缘纳米纤维。两种纤维都是显著的场不均匀性的来源，大大增强了整个装置的介电泳力，并实现了能够进行高通量颗粒分选的廉价平台，所述颗粒分选的选择性捕获是AC频率依赖的。首席研究员将接受先进的静电纺丝培训，以便研究团队能够制造和测试这些异构的电纺丝网络。实验颗粒分选结果将与基于物理的数值模拟进行比较。该制造方法可以按比例放大，使大规模的动电微流控应用超出其在微流体装置中的典型用途。电动力学在低成本非均质纤维平台上的应用还未得到充分探索;在其制造和物理操作极限方面的发现可以推进介电电泳和电流体力学在有目的设计的生物膜中的应用。该研究员在静电纺丝方面的培训将影响他所在大学的其他研究活动，包括个人防护设备、节能超级电容器、心脏重塑细胞支架、廉价神经刺激和原位药物输送的进步。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This grant supports research in the development of advanced nanofiber fabrication techniques that will be applied towards the manufacturing of enhanced filters. The researchers will be trained in electrospinning, a technique where a combination of fluid dynamic and electrical forces generate a mesh of nanofibers. More specifically, electrospinning enables the researchers to develop a heterogeneous network of high quality uniform fibers whose composition will enable advancements in filtration. The fiber mesh will comprise of a network of electrically conductive and insulative fibers that, when energized, will generate strong electric forces that will significantly enhance particulate trapping capabilities. Further, this unique network of fibers can be applied to various disciplines, including controlled high throughput sorting of biological cells and nanoparticles. This special network of fibers will lead to advancements in smart filtration, fluid transport, and heat transfer, leading to technological advancements that impact the U.S. economy and society. The candidate’s electrospinning training will have immediate impact on ongoing multidisciplinary research projects at his home institution and manufacturing interests within the state of Kentucky. Gained knowledge will be transferred to the local community: researchers will develop hands-on activities, create a new multidisciplinary course, and involve high school students in their research endeavors.The research goal is to fabricate a high throughput dielectrophoretic nanofiber-based particle sorter; this will be possible by developing a heterogeneous fibrous mat that contains both electrically conductive and insulative nanofibers. Both fibers are sources of significant field non-uniformities, greatly enhancing dielectrophoretic forces throughout the device and enabling an inexpensive platform capable of high throughput particle sorting whose selective trapping is AC frequency dependent. The principal investigator will be trained in advanced electrospinning such that the research team can fabricate and test these heterogeneous nanofiber networks. Experimental particle-sorting results will be compared to physics-based numerical simulations. The manufacturing method can be scaled up, enabling large-scale electrokinetic nanofiber applications beyond their typical use in microfluidic devices. The application of electrokinetics to low cost heterogeneous fibrous platforms is underexplored; discoveries in their manufacture and physical operational limits can advance the application of dielectrophoresis and electrohydrodynamics in purposefully-designed nanofiber mats. The investigator’s training in electrospinning will impact other research activities at his university, including advancements in personal protective equipment, energy efficient supercapacitors, cell scaffolds for cardiac remodeling, inexpensive neurostimulation, and in situ drug delivery.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.