Nanostructured Electrochemical Ozone Monitors

描述（由申请人提供）：目前还没有足够小、足够灵敏和足够有选择性的臭氧监测器可广泛用于检测和跟踪低十亿分之一（ppb）水平的臭氧，其可用于详细研究人类暴露于低ppb浓度臭氧的健康影响，特别是对于敏感个体，如哮喘患者、儿童和老年人。需要改进臭氧传感器，以便对患有哮喘和其他呼吸道疾病的个人进行可靠的实地接触测量。进一步了解臭氧等环境毒素对公众健康的影响，最终可加强对风险个人的保护。Synkera Technologies正在提议开发和验证一种新的信用卡大小的设备，该设备将能够以所需的空间分辨率实时检测低水平的臭氧（<12 ppb），以帮助呼吸系统疾病的研究。该传感器将基于电化学传感技术的最新进展，创造出比当今任何电化学传感器都更小、更快、更灵敏、更稳定、成本更低的下一代产品。该新型传感器将是一种固态电化学设备，基于Synkera现有的纳米技术专业知识，其形状因子将允许集成到小型监视器中。如果我们能够证明以足够的选择性和稳定性检测低ppb臭氧水平（约10 ppb）的可行性，则将建立概念验证。在第二阶段，将优化臭氧传感器，开发操作传感器的电子设备，生产原型监测器，并进行实地试验。公共卫生相关性：开发一种可穿戴、易于使用的接触点臭氧监测器将有助于进行广泛的人口研究，以进一步探讨环境暴露对呼吸道事件和呼吸道疾病的影响。这样的设备将支持像美国国立卫生研究院范围内的基因和环境倡议（GEI）这样的项目，该项目旨在确定具有公共卫生意义的疾病的主要遗传易感性因素，并开发测量潜在致病环境暴露的技术。这种类型的研究和开发将提供有关可能导致不同健康结果的健康差异的重要信息。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): No ozone monitors exist today that are small enough, sensitive enough, and selective enough for widespread use in detecting and tracking low part-per-billion (ppb) levels of ozone that can be used for detailed research of the health effects of human exposure to low-ppb concentrations ozone, particularly for sensitive individuals such as asthmatics, children, and the elderly. Improved ozone sensors are needed in order to make reliable in-field exposure measurements for individuals with asthma and other respiratory diseases. Improved understanding of the impacts of environmental toxins, such as ozone, on public health can eventually result in increased protections for at-risk individuals. Synkera Technologies is proposing the development and validation of a new, credit-card sized device that will be able to detect low levels of ozone (<12 ppb) in real-time with the required spatial resolution in order to aid research on respiratory diseases. This sensor will build upon recent advances in electrochemical sensing technology to create a next generation product that is significantly smaller, faster, more sensitive, stable and lower cost than any electrochemical sensor available today. The novel sensor will be a solid-state electrochemical device, based on existing nanotechnology expertise available at Synkera, with a form factor that will allow for integration into small monitors Phase I will demonstrate the feasibility of the approach by fabricating and extensively testing prototype sensors. Proof-of-concept will be established if we are able to demonstrate the feasibility of detection of low ppb ozone levels (~10 ppb) with sufficient selectivity and stability. In Phase II the ozone sensors will be optimized, electronics to operate the sensors will be developed, prototype monitors will be produced, and field trials will be performed. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The development of a wearable, easy to use, point-of-contact ozone monitor will allow for widespread population studies to further explore the affects of environmental exposure on respiratory incidents and respiratory disease. Such a device will support programs like the NIH- wide Genes and Environment Initiative (GEI), which seeks to identify major genetic susceptibility factors for diseases of public health significance and develop technology for measurement of potential causative environmental exposures. This type of research and development will provide significant information regarding health disparities that may lead to differential health outcomes.