NSF Convergence Accelerator Track L: An Integrated and Miniaturized Opioid Sensor System: Advancing Evidence-Based Strategies for Addressing the Opioid Crisis

这项研究通过开发创新、低成本、便携式的阿片类药物生物传感器来应对阿片类药物危机带来的紧迫公共卫生挑战。这个跨学科的团队由来自学术界、行业、医疗保健和政府的专家组成，旨在提供现实世界的解决方案来抗击阿片类药物的流行。该项目的重要性在于其提供即时、准确的阿片类药物检测和监测的潜力，这对有效执法、精确的药物和治疗以及环境监测至关重要。这项技术与美国国家科学基金会的使命相一致，有助于促进科学进步、促进国民健康和增进公共福利。这一倡议的更广泛影响包括提高公众对阿片类药物风险的认识，促进科学和技术方面的教育机会，以及培养一支熟练的劳动力队伍。该项目旨在创造阿片类药物危机管理的范式转变，提供切实的解决方案，以减少阿片类药物的滥用，加强公共安全，并为有效的决策提供信息。此外，它还满足社会需求，包括促进关于阿片类药物风险的公共教育和促进技术和科学劳动力发展。该项目的核心是创造一种新的阿片生物传感器技术，名为Im-DR(分子间相互作用启用的检测识别)，具有高灵敏度、选择性和多功能性等优点。各种形式的生物传感器正在开发中，包括手持探头、测试条和可穿戴贴片，以满足不同的应用。该项目包括尖端传感器材料、人工智能集成和全面的社会影响研究。该项目还着眼于可伸缩性，以确保广泛的可及性和融入社会的不同部门。预期的结果是显著减少与阿片类药物相关的事件和死亡，提高公众意识，并加强应对阿片类药物危机的研究和政策制定框架。这一奖项反映了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 research addresses the pressing public health challenge of the opioid crisis through the development of innovative, cost-efficient, portable opioid biosensors. The interdisciplinary team, comprising experts from academia, industries, healthcare, and governments, aims to deliver real-world solutions to combat the opioid epidemic. The project's importance lies in its potential to provide immediate, accurate opioid detection and monitoring, which is crucial for effective law enforcement, precise medicine and treatment, and environmental monitoring. This technology aligns with NSF's mission by contributing to the advancement of science, promoting national health, and enhancing public welfare. The broader impacts of this initiative include raising public awareness about opioid risks, fostering educational opportunities in science and technology, and developing a skilled workforce. The project aims to create a paradigm shift in opioid crisis management, offering tangible solutions that can reduce opioid misuse, enhance public safety, and inform effective policy-making. Additionally, it addresses societal needs, including promoting public education on opioid risks and fostering technological and scientific workforce development. The project centers on the creation of a novel opioid biosensor technology, named iM-Dr (inter-Molecular Interaction-enabled Detective Recognition), offering advancements such as high sensitivity, selectivity and versatility. Various forms of biosensors, including handheld probes, test strips, and wearable patches, are being developed to cater to diverse applications. The project incorporates cutting-edge sensor materials, artificial intelligence integration, and comprehensive social impact studies. The project also aims for scalability to ensure widespread accessibility and integration into different sectors of society. The expected outcome is a significant reduction in opioid-related incidents and deaths, an increase in public awareness, and an enhanced framework for research and policy development addressing the opioid crisis.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.