NTE Phase I (Exploratory): Molecularly Imprinted Conducting Polymer Scaffolds for Sensing and Measurement

克莱姆森大学的“NTE：第一阶段（探索性）：用于传感和测量的分子印迹导电聚合物支架”这个探索性研究项目的目标是开发和测试一种制造分子印迹聚合物层的新方法，这种聚合物层与用于传感和信号传导的导电聚合物交织在一起。PI将评估这些层结合和信号的能力，通过电活动的变化，拟除虫菊酯的存在。之所以选择这类有害杀虫剂，是因为它在城市环境中越来越多地用于对付携带西尼罗病毒等疾病的蚊子，还因为拟除虫菊酯的一个共同结构特征提供了开发通用（而非特定）传感器的潜力。分子印迹导电聚合物支架将使用3-乙烯基噻吩制成。这种材料允许生长，通过表面约束原子转移自由基聚合（SC ATRP），在模板存在的层拟除虫菊酯；随着层的生长，电化学聚合将用于在整个层中偶联噻吩基团。这两步工艺的优点是明显的：SC ATRP允许控制层的生长，随后的电化学聚合将支架交联，并将导电聚合物集成到整个网络中，从而提供“机载”传感和信号能力。PI将使用标准光谱技术来研究处理对层的影响，并使用各种电化学技术来评估支架对目标拟除虫菊酯的反应。PI将比较印迹材料和非印迹材料的性能，以评估印迹支架对目标拟除虫菊酯的特异性。更广泛的影响：这项工作将为环境工程、材料工程和纳米技术等领域的研究生和本科生研究人员提供一个培训基地。这些主题与化学工程师的就业趋势是一致的。通过克莱姆森现有的项目，来自弱势群体的学生有机会参与这项研究，这将有助于确保这些研究活动培养跨学科的训练基地。将开发的基于新支架的传感器可用于城市地区对拟除虫菊酯类杀虫剂的被动监测。由于拟除虫菊酯会影响内分泌和神经系统，这种传感器可以更好地监测分散的剂量，提高官员保护公民的能力。如果这些新型的分子印迹导电聚合物支架在模板化和检测目标分子方面被证明是强大的，那么这种方法可能会激发新的倡议，生产具有“机载”信号能力的传感器，可以集成到更广泛的传感器阵列中，并扩展电子鼻（阻抗传感器）的应用。

Kilbey, S. Michael, et al.Clemson University"NTE: Phase I (Exploratory): Molecularly Imprinted Conducting Polymer Scaffolds for Sensing and Measurement"The objective of this exploratory research project is to develop and test a novel method of creating molecularly imprinted polymer layers that are interlaced with conducting polymers for sensing and signaling. The PI's will evaluate the ability of these layers to bind and signal, though changes in electroactivity, the presence of pyrethroids. This class of hazardous insecticide has been selected because of its growing use in urban environments against mosquitoes that carry diseases such as West Nile Virus and because a common structural feature in pyrethroids offers the potential to develop a general (rather than specific) sensor. The molecularly imprinted conducting polymer scaffolds will be created using 3-vinylthiophene. This material allows the growth, via surface confined atom transfer radical polymerization (SC ATRP), the layer in the presence of the template pyrethroid; following layer growth, electrochemical polymerization will be used to couple the thiophene groups throughout the layer. The advantages of this two-step process are distinct: SC ATRP permits controlled growth of the layer, and subsequent electrochemical polymerization crosslinks the scaffold and integrates the conducting polymer throughout the network, thereby providing "on-board" sensing and signaling capabilities. The PI's will use standard spectroscopic techniques to investigate the effect of processing on the layer and a variety of electrochemical techniques to assess the response of the scaffolds to the presence of the target pyrethroids. The PI's will compare the performance of imprinted and non-imprinted materials to evaluate the specificity of the imprinted scaffolds to the target pyrethroids. Broader Impacts:This work will provide a training ground for graduate and undergraduate researchers in areas such as environmental engineering, materials engineering, and nanotechnology. These themes are consistent with employment trends for chemical engineers. Through existing programs at Clemson, opportunities for students from underrepresented groups to participate in this research, which will help ensure that these research activities foster an interdisciplinary training ground. Sensors based on the new scaffolds that will be developed could be used for passive monitoring of pyrethroids in urban areas. Because pyrethroids affect the endocrine and nervous systems, such sensors would allow better monitoring of dispersed dosages and improve the ability of officials to protect citizens. If these novel molecularly-imprinted conducting polymer scaffolds prove to be robust for templating and detecting target molecules, the approach is likely to spur new initiatives to produce sensors with "on-board" signaling capabilities that can be integrated in broader sensor arrays, and expand the applications for electronic noses (impedimetric sensors).