Modified nanostructures for the next generation of biosensing and enhanced nanomaterials

纳米结构的制备和表面修饰是纳米科学向纳米技术转化的关键研究领域。这项提案中描述的研究计划寻求将修饰的纳米结构应用于生物分析和纳米材料应用。具体地说，我们将开发检测小分子代谢物的设备和技术，并基于可再生的“绿色”纳米颗粒合成高性能材料。代谢组学是“组学”科学的一个新兴领域，它使用先进的分析化学技术来表征在组织和生物体液中发现的数千种小分子代谢物(MW&lt；1500 Da)。代谢组学的一个关键优势是能够一次测量一种代谢物，而是一次测量数十到100‘S。廉价、易用的辅助诊断是个性化医疗成功的关键。我们打算利用代谢组学的力量来开发新的、廉价的、便携式的代谢组学测量系统，该系统最终可能不仅用于诊断、监测或预测一种疾病，而且还可用于诊断、监测或预测50种常见疾病--包括许多被AHRIS优先考虑的疾病。已确定的30种关键代谢物可单独或联合用于预测或诊断各种疾病的发展，包括母亲(先兆子痫)、儿童(自闭症、18三体)、慢性疾病(糖尿病、克罗恩病、结肠炎、癌症、慢性疲劳综合征)、感染性疾病(肝炎)和神经系统疾病(阿尔茨海默氏症、精神分裂症)，具有高度的敏感性和特异性。我们相信，这里提出的工作可以显著减少分析时间和成本。纤维素是世界上含量最丰富的生物聚合物。对纤维素的特殊处理可以分离出纳米级的结晶纤维素纳米颗粒，称为纤维素纳米晶(Cnc)。碳纳米管是一种纳米尺度的棒状颗粒，具有高的比强度和比模数、高的比表面积以及独特的光学性质。我们的项目涉及对数控机床进行化学改造，以生产一种可用于添加剂制造的材料。加法制造使用的技术是通过材料的顺序分层来创建3D结构。最常见的加法制造形式是3D打印，它让我们更接近复制技术的长期梦想。3D打印机通过顺序沉积可以固化成所需形状的材料，从数字模型创建对象。从金属到陶瓷再到聚合物，各种各样的材料都可以用作3D打印的墨水。随着想法和应用的不断扩大，对新的墨水材料的需求也会不断扩大。在对可再生、丰富、生物兼容和/或可生物降解墨水的需求的推动下，生物材料的3D打印开始出现。我们相信，作为下一代3D墨水的主要或次要组件，特别是用于生物医学植入物和设备，CNC显示出巨大的前景。

The fabrication and the surface modification of nanostrutures are key areas of research for the transformation of nanoscience to nanotechnology. The research program described in this proposal seeks to apply modified nanostructures in bioanalytical and nanomaterials applications. Specifically, we will develop devices and technologies to detect small molecule metabolites and synthesize high-performance materials based on renewable “green” nanoparticles. Metabolomics is an emerging field of “omics” science that uses advanced analytical chemistry techniques to characterize the 1000s of small molecule metabolites (MW<1500 Da) found in tissues and biofluids. A key strength of metabolomics is the ability to measure not just 1 metabolite at a time, but dozens to 100’s at a time. Inexpensive, easy-to-use companion diagnostics are central to the success of personalized medicine. We intend to exploit the power of metabolomics to develop novel, inexpensive, portable metabolomic measurement system that could eventually be used to diagnose, monitor or predict not just one disease, but >50 common diseases -- including many that are on the AHRIS priority list. 30 key metabolites have been identified that may be used, either alone or in combination, to predict or diagnose the development of a wide range of disorders including maternal (preeclampsia), childhood (autism, trisomy 18), chronic (diabetes, Crohn’s, colitis, cancer, chronic fatigue syndrome), infectious (hepatitis) and neurological (Alzheimer’s, schizophrenia) with high sensitivity and specificity. We believe the work proposed here can reduce analysis times and costs significantly. Cellulose is the world’s most abundant biopolymer. Specific processing of cellulose results in the isolation of nanoscale, crystalline cellulose nanoparticles called cellulose nanocrystals (CNC). CNCs are rod shaped particles of nanoscale dimension that exhibit high specific strength and modulus, have high surface area and possess unique optical properties. Our project involves the chemical modification of CNC to produce a material that can be used in additive manufacturing. Additive manufacturing uses technologies that create 3D structures through sequential layering of materials. The most common form of additive manufacturing is 3D printing, which has brought us closer to the longstanding dream of replication technology. A 3D printer creates an object from a digital model by sequential depositing materials that can solidify into the desired shape. A wide variety of materials, from metals to ceramics to polymers, can be used as inks for 3D printing. As ideas and applications continue to expand, so will the need for new ink materials. 3D printing of biomaterials is beginning to emerge pushed by the desire for renewable, abundant, biocompatible and/or biodegradable inks. We believe that CNC shows great promise as a major or minor component of the next generation of 3D inks, especially for biomedical implants and devices.