Graphene/Polymer-based Fluorescent Nanozymes for Sensitive Detection of Metabolic Biotargets

在化学系化学测量和成像(CMI)计划的支持下，以及已建立的刺激竞争研究计划(EPSCoR)、化学系的化学结构、动力学和机制B(CSDM-B)计划以及化学、生物工程、环境和运输系统(CBET)系的生物传感计划的共同资助下，北达科他州大学的Julia赵教授和Diane Darland教授及其各自的研究小组正在设计一种新的基于纳米材料的传感器的方法，称为纳米酶，用于检测和定量关键的代谢生物分子，如葡萄糖。他们寻求创造出可在各种环境中使用的传感器，其特点是高灵敏度、易于合成和良好的生物兼容性。在这项工作的同时，赵博士和达兰德博士正在接触部落高中和大学以及北达科他州大学系统中的其他大学，鼓励在STEM(科学、技术、工程和数学)中代表性不足的群体的学生将科学作为职业选择。正在进行更多的努力，开发实践高级科学课程，帮助初中生和/或高中生将从原子到生态系统的概念与纳米材料和细胞联系起来。根据该奖项，北达科他州大学的赵/达兰德合作团队将致力于开发基于石墨烯和聚合物的荧光纳米酶，用于灵敏地检测代谢生物分子。纳米酶共同催化有针对性的生物分子反应，同时提供与分析物浓度成正比的强烈荧光信号。目标属性包括在各种操作环境中的高稳定性、高检测灵敏度、易于合成、良好的生物兼容性以及适用于检测关键的细胞能量目标。在这些研究过程中，该团队试图更好地了解基于石墨烯和聚合物的纳米酶的几何、组成、尺寸和电化学特性。纳米酶将进行毒性测试，并用于生物靶标检测和细胞成像。表现出高代谢活性和易受代谢障碍影响的细胞将被用于在正常和不良代谢条件下测试纳米酶。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。

With support from the Chemical Measurement and Imaging (CMI) program in the Division of Chemistry, and co-funding from the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR), the Chemical Structures, Dynamics, and Mechanisms – B (CSDM-B) program in the Chemistry Division, and the Biosensing Program in the Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems (CBET), Professors Julia Zhao and Diane Darland and their respective research groups at the University of North Dakota are devising a new approach to nanomaterial-based sensors, known as nanozymes, for the detection and quantitation of key metabolic biomolecules, such as glucose. They seek to create sensors usable in a range of environments and characterized by high sensitivity, easy synthesis, and good biocompatibility. In conjunction with this work, Drs. Zhao and Darland are reaching out to engage tribal high schools and colleges as well as other universities in the North Dakota University System, to encourage students from groups underrepresented in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) to consider science as a career option. Additional efforts are underway to develop hands-on advanced science lessons to help middle- and/or high-school students connect concepts from atoms to ecosystems with nanomaterials and cells. Under this award, the collaborative Zhao/Darland team at the University of North Dakota will work to develop graphene- and polymer-based fluorescent nanozymes for sensitive detection of metabolic biomolecules. The nanozymes co-catalyze targeted biomolecular reactions while providing an intense fluorescence signal proportional to the analyte concentration. Targeted attributes include high stability in various operational environments, high detection sensitivity, easy synthesis, good biocompatibility, and applicability for detection of critical cellular energetic targets. In the course of these studies, the team seeks a better understanding of the geometric, compositional, dimensional, and electrochemical characteristics of graphene- and polymer-based nanozymes. Nanozymes will be tested for toxicity and used for biotarget detection and cell imaging. Cells that display high metabolic activity and that are vulnerable to metabolic distress will be used for testing the nanozymes under normal and distressed metabolic conditions.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.