ACT/SGER: Virus Recognition Using Self-Assembled Nanoscale Block Copolymer Patterns

本探索性方案将提出一种利用镍功能化两亲性嵌段共聚物模式分离和收集病毒的新方法。嵌段共聚物可以提供具有非光刻纳米图案的柔性透明功能纳米器件，可以与生物活性分子兼容。提出的工作分为两个具体目标：第一个涉及功能化嵌段共聚物的合成和加工，第二个将这些材料应用于仿生病毒传感。镍功能化嵌段共聚物将被合成并加工成薄膜。不同大小和形状的病毒（BV-GFP， TMV， TNV， PVX， CGMMV）的结合将进行，并在水和生理介质中评估它们在嵌段共聚物模式上的特异性。因此，提出的用于合成和表征薄膜病毒结合纳米级聚合物模式的探索性方法为开发新型生物传感材料和技术提供了令人兴奋的途径。所提出的探索性研究的更广泛影响涉及嵌段共聚物纳米级器件系统，该系统将应用于病毒的识别、分类和去除。这目前是一项非常困难的任务，但在不同部门，包括国家安全（例如生物恐怖主义）、人类和动物健康、作物保护和生物制剂生产，都有广泛的需求。在这项工作中进行的教育活动包括本科和研究生教学、中学教师培训、研究生指导、本科生参与研究和指导的各种机会，以及为K-12量身定制的互动网页的开发。该奖项由美国国家科学基金会和情报界共同支持。数学和物理科学理事会的反恐方法项目支持基础研究和劳动力发展方面的新概念，这些新概念有可能为国家安全做出贡献。

This exploratory proposal will present a new method which uses a Nickel-functionalized amphiphilic block copolymer pattern to separate and collect viruses. Block copolymers can provide flexible transparent functional nanoscale devices with non-lithographic nanoscale patterns which could be made compatible with biologically active molecules.The proposed work is divided into two specific objectives: The first deals with synthesizing and processing functionalized block copolymers, the second will apply these materials to biomimetic virus sensing.1. Nickel functionalized block copolymers will be synthesized and processed into thin films.2. Virus binding of different sizes and shapes (BV-GFP, TMV, TNV, PVX, CGMMV) will be carried out, and their specificity on the block copolymer pattern will be evaluated in aqueous and physiological media.The proposed exploratory methodologies for the synthesis and characterization of thin-film virus binding nanoscale polymer patterns thus offer exciting avenues for the development of novel biosensing materials and techniques. The broader impacts of the proposed exploratory research relate to a block copolymer nanoscale device system which would apply in the identification, classification, and removal of viruses. This is currently a very difficult task, but the need is widespread in diverse sectors, including national security (e.g. bioterrorism), human and animal health, crop protection, and biologics production. The education activities to be undertaken in this work include undergraduate and graduate teaching, middle school teacher training, graduate student advising, and various opportunities in undergraduate research involvement and mentoring, as well as the development of a K-12 tailored interactive web page.This award is supported jointly by the NSF and the Intelligence Community. The Approaches to Combat Terrorism Program in the Directorate for Mathematics and Physical Sciences supports new concepts in basic research and workforce development with the potential to contribute to national security.