Advancing dynamic MEMS for in-situ biosensing

水媒污染(如E.Coli)和食源性污染(如李斯特氏菌)对快速、可靠和成本效益高的生物传感器的需求日益增长，这种生物传感器可以在现场检测细菌，用于疾病筛查、食品安全检查和水质监测。传统的生物分子检测技术具有局限性，不能提供现场和护理点的实时检测。因此，迫切需要一种能够实时原位筛查或监测细菌存在的新技术。 MEMS(微电子机械系统)动态传感器是微小质量检测的理想候选者，并在空气或真空中找到了相关的应用。然而，用于水溶液的MEMS动态传感器还没有得到很好的研究。本研究将对用于检测水溶液中活菌的MEMS动态传感器进行研究，并对MEMS动态传感器的基本原理、工作环境进行探讨。此外，还将更深入地了解如何通过主动操作生物分析物来放大传感信号。这项研究的结果不仅将导致更好的健康筛查和更好的食品安全，而且还将使加拿大的研究人员和诊断技术公司在开发这些技术方面处于战略优势。此外，拟议的工作将使一种专注于在更广泛的应用中应用微型传感器的新方法成为可能，特别是在超低浓度生物分析物的实时原位检测方面。 拟开展的工作包括新型微型生物传感器的设计、模拟、微加工、封装和测试。由于该项目独特的跨学科性质，它包括机械、电气、化学工程和物理等。通过接触最先进的设计和模拟工具、制造和测试设备，参与该项目的学员将积累广泛的分析和实验技能，以满足日益增长的工业和学术对微纳技术的需求。

Water-borne contamination (e.g. E. Coli) and food-borne contamination (e.g. Listeria) have given rise to an increasing demand for fast, reliable and cost-effective biosensors that can detect in-situ bacteria for the purpose of screening for disease, food safety inspection, and water quality monitoring. Conventional biomolecular detection technology has limitations and can't provide real-time testing in the field and at the point of care. As a result, there is an urgent need for a new technique that will be capable of real-time in-situ screening or monitoring for the presence of bacteria. MEMS (microelectromechanical systems) dynamic sensors are great candidates for minuscule mass detections and have found relevant applications in air or vacuum. However, MEMS dynamic sensors for applications in aqueous solutions are not yet well investigated. In this study MEMS dynamic sensors for live bacteria detection in aqueous solution will be studied and fundamentals of MEMS dynamic sensors, working aqueous environment will be explored. In addition, a deeper understanding of amplifying sensing signals by actively manipulating the bioanalytes will be investigated. The outcome of this research will not only result in improved health screening and better food safety, but will also place Canadian researchers and diagnostics technology companies at a strategic advantage for the development of these technologies. Furthermore, the proposed work will enable a novel approach focused on applying micro sensors in a broader range of applications, particularly for a real-time in-situ sensing of bioanalytes at ultra-low concentration. The proposed work includes the design, simulation, micromachining, packaging and testing of novel microscopic biosensors. Due to the unique interdisciplinary nature of the project, it includes mechanical, electrical, chemical engineering and physics, etc. Exposed to state-of-the-art design and simulation tools, fabrication and testing facilities, the trainees involved in this project will accumulate extensive analytical and experimental skills that will meet the increasing industrial and academic demands for micro/nano technology.