SENSORS:Design and Development of Remote Addressable Sensor Arrays for Toxic Agent Detection

拟议的团队由西北大学（NU），田纳西大学（UT）和加州大学伯克利分校（UCB）的材料科学，生物学和工程学方面的多样但互补的专业知识组成。我们将共同采用内部开发的方法，将高灵敏度微悬臂梁传感器元件与微电子平台集成，包括RF远程寻址能力，与真正创新的生化受体结合，以增加识别选择性-特别是对于神经毒剂和有毒化学品。我们雄心勃勃的目标是至少接近一个完整的交钥匙系统，包括完全集成的技术，能够监测危险环境，并自动决策输出的威胁。拟议研究的技术目标包括：1。设计和开发远程集成压电MOS（金属氧化物半导体）悬臂梁为基础的纳米传感器阵列，用于多路复用的有毒生物化学感测在十亿分之一（ppb）或万亿分之一（ppt）的水平，或更好的，如果可能的话，2。通过光学检测鉴定/优化多路生物分子受体，3.肉毒神经毒素（BoNT）和沙林神经毒气的高特异性检测方法的开发和验证.一个完整的和集成的传感器系统的概念验证演示。拟议的研究，在本质上，定义了一个新的范式集成传感器技术，并可能提供急需的“巨大的进步”，为这一重要领域。一个协调一致的努力，提出耦合研究与有效的教育/推广，不仅研究生/博士后，但也本科生和社会，如：1。通过与HBCU学校的联系，致力于提高少数民族学生的奖学金经验，特别是在所有三个机构的暑期实习计划。承诺通过与女工程师协会（SWE）协调的真正的招聘工作来提高妇女的参与度。我们力求使女科学家/工程师在该方案中的参与率达到50%。利用经验证和成功的“材料世界模块（MWM）”计划（与新加坡国立大学Bob Chang教授合作）在全国高中推广。如果“集成纳米传感器”的公共显示模块，在科学和工业的芝加哥博物馆，与正在进行的NSF NSEC外展倡议在NU协调。

The proposed team comprises of diverse yet complementary expertise in materials science, biology and engineering, at Northwestern University (NU), University of Tennessee (UT) and UC Berkeley (UCB). Together, we will employ an in-house developed approach for integration of high sensitivity micro-cantilever sensor elements with microelectronics platform, including RF remote addressability, in conjunction with truly innovative biochemical receptors to add discriminating selectivity- especially for nerve agents and toxic chemicals. Our ambitious aim is to at least approach a complete turn-key system consisting of fully integrated technologies, capable of monitoring hazardous environment, and automated decision output for the threat.The technical objectives of the proposed research include:1. Design and development of remote integrated piezo-MOS (metal oxide semiconductor) cantilever based nanosensor arrays for multiplexed toxic biochemical sensing at parts- per-billion (ppb) or parts-per-trillion (ppt) levels, or better if possible,2. Identification/optimization of multiplexed biomolecular receptors via optical detection,3. Development and validation of highly specific methods for the detection of botulinum neurotoxins (BoNT) and Sarin nerve gas.4. Proof-of-concept demonstration of a complete and integrated sensor system.The proposed research, in essence, defines a new paradigm in integrated sensor technology, and may provide that much needed "giant step forward" for this important field.A concerted effort is proposed to couple research with effective education/outreach for not only graduate students/postdocs, but also undergraduate students and society at-large, such as:1. A commitment to enhance scholarship experience for minority students via liaison with HBCU schools, especially for summer internship program at all three institutions.2. A pledge to enhance women participation via genuine recruiting effort, coordinated with the Society for Women Engineers (SWE). We seek to achieve 50% participation of women scientists/engineers in this program.3. Leveraging the proven and successful "Materials World Modules (MWM)" program (collaboration with Prof. Bob Chang, NU) for nation-wide high school dissemination.4. Public display module of if "Integrated Nanosensors", at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry, in coordination with the ongoing NSF-NSEC outreach initiative at NU.