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

在化学部化学测量和成像（CMI）项目的支持下，以及来自刺激竞争研究的既定计划（EPSCoR）、化学部化学结构、动力学和机制-B （CSDM-B）项目和化学、生物工程、环境和运输系统（CBET）部门生物传感项目的共同资助，北达科他州大学的朱莉亚·赵教授和黛安·达兰德教授及其各自的研究小组正在设计一种基于纳米材料的传感器的新方法，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。他们寻求创造可在一系列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相容性。在这项工作中，dr。赵和达兰德正在与部落高中和大学以及北达科他州大学系统的其他大学接触，鼓励来自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一种职业选择。此外，还在努力开发动手操作的高级科学课程，以帮助中学生和/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Zhao/Darland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，用于代谢生物分子的敏感检测。纳米酶协同催化目标生物分子反应，同时提供与分析物浓度成正比的强烈荧光信号。靶标属性包括在各种操作环境下的高稳定性、检测灵敏度高、易于合成、生物相容性好、适用于检测关键细胞能量靶标。在这些研究过程中，该团队寻求更好地理解石墨烯和聚合物纳米酶的几何、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。显示高代谢活性和易受代谢窘迫的细胞将被用于在正常和痛苦的代谢条件下测试纳米酶。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。

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.