Developing multifunctional biohybrid and biointegrated materials and devices

开发多功能生物混合和生物集成材料和器件

• 批准号: RGPIN-2016-05605
• 负责人: Hosseinidoust, Zeinab
• 金额: $ 2.11万
• 依托单位: McMaster University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=709831
• 关键词: Developing; multifunctional; biohybrid; biointegrated; materials

Engineers have long been fascinated by the functionality of biological systems at small scales; however, mimicking these functions has proven to be challenging. Progress in nanotechnology has enabled the realization of complex small structures; however, engineering function at such scales remains out of reach for man-made constructs. Biological systems perform remarkable feats of engineering, unparalleled by any artificial system. A bacterial cell, for example, is not just capable of living and reproducing, but can swim efficiently, sense and respond to environmental triggers, coordinate and collaborate with other cells, and look for food, all packaged into a body measuring a few microns. Integration of biological entities, such as cells, bacteria or viruses, into synthetic constructs allows for the exploitation of their unique functionalities for the design of active, smart, multifunctional materials and devices; this new approach in engineering design is known as the biohybrid approach. The goal of my proposed research is to utilize the biohybrid approach to design smarter materials and environmentally responsive systems for applications in diagnostics, therapeutics and environmental sensing/remediation. These biohybrid materials/devices will integrate biological colloids (specifically bacteria and bacterial viruses) as functional building blocks, with non-biological colloids or surfaces (e.g., graphene oxide, cellulose nanocrystals, hydrogels etc.) that provide structural support and additional functionality. My proposed research is rooted in colloidal science, interfacial engineering and biological engineering and consists of two main themes, namely viral nanotechnology and bacterial workers. The first theme will focus on biohybrid virus nanoparticles as a multifunctional platform for nanomedicine and smart biomaterials. The second theme will focus on developing bacterial swimmers to move micro-scale loads as tools for tumor therapy and bottom-up assembly of smart, self-assembled, micro/nano structured materials. The outcome of my research will be (i) new materials and devices that address challenges in human health and the environment, (ii) know-how for control/preservation of biological function upon contact with artificial surfaces, and (iii) insight into designing smart miniaturized systems. This program provides the ideal training environment for students, equipping them with multidisciplinary expertise and the insight and vision required to solve real-world problems using tools from various branches of science and engineering. Furthermore, my research combines experimentation with modeling and rational design, increasing the credibility and impact of the results and adding to the skillsets of the trainees, making them a valuable in the Canadian workforce in emerging areas of engineering and applied science.

长期以来，工程师们一直对小规模生物系统的功能着迷。然而，模仿这些功能已被证明具有挑战性。纳米技术的进步使得复杂的小型结构得以实现；然而，如此规模的工程功能对于人造建筑来说仍然遥不可及。生物系统具有任何人工系统都无法比拟的非凡工程成就。例如，细菌细胞不仅能够生存和繁殖，而且能够有效地游泳、感知和响应环境触发因素、与其他细胞协调和协作以及寻找食物，所有这些都被包装在一个几微米的身体中。将细胞、细菌或病毒等生物实体整合到合成结构中，可以利用其独特的功能来设计活性、智能、多功能材料和设备；这种工程设计的新方法被称为生物混合方法。 我提出的研究的目标是利用生物混合方法设计更智能的材料和环境响应系统，用于诊断、治疗和环境传感/修复。这些生物混合材料/设备将生物胶体（特别是细菌和细菌病毒）作为功能构件，与提供结构支撑和附加功能的非生物胶体或表面（例如氧化石墨烯、纤维素纳米晶体、水凝胶等）整合在一起。我提出的研究植根于胶体科学、界面工程和生物工程，由两个主题组成，即病毒纳米技术和细菌工人。第一个主题将重点关注生物杂交病毒纳米粒子作为纳米医学和智能生物材料的多功能平台。第二个主题将侧重于开发细菌游泳者来移动微型负载，作为肿瘤治疗和智能自组装微/纳米结构材料的自下而上组装的工具。 我的研究成果将是（i）解决人类健康和环境挑战的新材料和设备，（ii）与人造表面接触时控制/保存生物功能的专业知识，以及（iii）对设计智能微型系统的见解。该项目为学生提供了理想的培训环境，使他们具备多学科专业知识以及使用科学和工程各个分支的工具解决现实世界问题所需的洞察力和远见。此外，我的研究将实验与建模和理性设计结合起来，提高了结果的可信度和影响力，并增强了受训者的技能，使他们在工程和应用科学新兴领域的加拿大劳动力中变得有价值。