Light Addressable Thin Film Sensor System for High Resolution Imaging

摘要题目：一种用于高分辨率成像的光寻地址薄膜传感器系统首席研究员：Jinghua Li，美国俄亥俄州立大学人体中的生物体液含有多种化学生物标志物，可以揭示健康状况和年龄状况。记录这些生物标志物在软组织表面的时空分布可以提供有关生物相关动态、异质性过程的宝贵信息，这可能有助于疾病的早期诊断和有效治疗。然而，由于缺乏具有足够空间和时间分辨率的生物集成分析工具，在理解这些过程方面存在知识差距。本研究旨在利用薄膜半导体纳米膜构建灵活的高分辨率成像系统。当与聚焦、可寻址和调制的激光束配对时，成像系统可以产生可量化的光电流，其振幅与目标生物标志物的局部浓度成比例。该项目旨在通过提供光电子学、物理学和生物医学工程等技术相关领域的培训和研究机会，为本科生和高中生的教育做出贡献。本研究的结果将用于为参加设计学习中心顶点体验计划的高中生制作“变形成像电影”演示套件，以激励他们追求STEM职业。本研究将探讨半导体物理中基于场效应的高分辨率成像系统设计原理的一系列基本问题。对柔性和光寻址系统的探索将增强对亚微米半导体中用于曲线和软表面生物传感的光电耦合的理解。假设所提出的薄膜传感平台可以前所未有地结合软组织上/内成像生物标志物所需的功能，包括灵活性，可扩展性，高时空分辨率和多功能性。该项目的具体目标包括：(1)在聚合物衬底上开发柔性半导体纳米膜，并探索液体环境下半导体内偏置电压诱导的耗尽区形成；(2)研究了聚焦调制激光束辐射下半导体的光电耦合行为，揭示了结构-界面分辨率的相关性；(3)建立使用所得聚合物支撑的纳米膜成像多种生物标志物分布的可行性。总体而言，研究成果将提供对柔性光寻址成像系统中溶液-电子界面的化学、电气、光学和生物现象的理解。薄膜电子学、生化接口和记录硬件的协同设计将在传统技术研究领域的交叉领域创造新的知识。传感技术、界面设计、理论模型和设备概念在纳米技术、光电子学、生物医学工程和临床医学等多个研究领域具有变革性。对于未来的应用，大规模的化学和/或生物标记物的高分辨率成像，结合数据科学和人工智能，可以为疾病的早期诊断、干预和治疗提供准确的信息。除了监测生物过程外，这种成像技术还可用于工业润滑剂、燃料电池和食品的质量控制等领域。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。

Abstract title: A Light Addressable Thin Film Sensor System for High Resolution ImagingPrincipal investigator: Jinghua Li, The Ohio State UniversityBiofluids in human bodies contain a variety of chemical biomarkers that can reveal health status and age-based conditions. Recording the spatiotemporal distribution of these biomarkers within the surfaces of soft tissues can provide valuable information about bio-related dynamic, heterogeneous processes which could potentially contribute to the early diagnosis and effective treatment of diseases. However, there is a knowledge gap in understanding these processes due to the lack of bio-integrated analytical tools with sufficient spatial and temporal resolutions. This study aims to build a flexible, high-resolution imaging system using thin film semiconductor nanomembranes. When paired with a focused, addressable, and modulated laser beam, the imaging system can generate a quantifiable photocurrent, the amplitude of which scales with the local concentration of target biomarkers. This project seeks to contribute to the education of undergraduate and high school students by providing training and research opportunities in technologically relevant areas such as optoelectronics, physics, and biomedical engineering. Results obtained from this study will be used to create “deformable-imaging-film” demo kits for high school students participating in the Design Learning Center Capstone Experience Program to inspire their pursuits of STEM careers.The proposed research will investigate a series of fundamental questions related to the design principles of the high-resolution imaging system based on the field effect in semiconductor physics. Exploration of the flexible and light addressable system will enhance the understandings of optical-electrical coupling in submicron semiconductors for biosensing on curvilinear and soft surfaces. The hypothesis is that the proposed thin film sensing platform can unprecedentedly combine functionalities needed for imaging biomarkers on/within soft tissues, including flexibility, scalability, high spatiotemporal resolution, and multifunctionality. Specific aims of this project include: (1) develop flexible semiconductor nanomembranes on polymer substrates, and explore bias voltage induced formation of depletion regions within the semiconductors in liquid environment; (2) investigate optical-electrical coupling behaviors in the semiconductors with the radiation of a focused, modulated laser beam, and uncover the structure-interface-resolution correlations; and (3) establish the viability of using the resulting polymer-supported nanomembranes for imaging the distribution of multiple biomarkers. Overall, the research outcomes will provide understandings of the chemical, electrical, optical, and biological phenomena at the solution-electronics interface within the flexible and light addressable imaging system. The codesign of thin film electronics, biochemical interfaces, and recording hardware will create new knowledge at the intersection of conventional fields of technical study. The sensing technologies, interface designs, theoretical models, and device concepts can be transformative in multiple research fields spanning nanotechnology, optoelectronics, biomedical engineering, and clinical medicine. For future applications, the high-resolution imaging of chemical and/or biological markers in large scale can provide accurate information for early diagnosis, intervention, and cure of diseases when combined with data science and artificial intelligence. In addition to monitoring biological processes, this imaging technology could also be useful in areas such as quality control of industrial lubricants, fuel cells, and food.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.