Chip-Scale Integrated Nanofluidics/Affinity Microcolumn Biosensors

检测化学和生物战(CBW)战剂是一项持续的挑战。足以对人类造成伤害的CBW制剂的数量非常少，需要特别的敏感性；通常，快速识别和补救是必要的；需要广泛分布的廉价传感器来监测大片区域的制剂；也许最令人担忧的是，可能的制剂的种类几乎是无限的。随着生物合成能力的进步，创造新的生物武器制剂不再是一个民族国家的企业。这一发展需要一种新的监测方法。为了满足灵敏度和面积分布的要求，需要一种芯片规模的技术，对各种试剂类别敏感，只需要非常小的(皮升)体积，并具有完整的预浓缩过程。这项工作的广泛目标是建立基本的理解和必要的技术方法，将高密度纳米级通道阵列作为芯片规模生物检测系统的通用、灵敏和选择性组件，使其能够对各种CBW制剂做出反应。纳米流体分离和检测(提供皮升灵敏度)和智能、功能化的受体珠微柱(提供预浓缩和选择性)。科技汇聚在一起。对复杂流体纳米尺度传输所涉及的物理现象有一个基本的了解，这是开发新一代生物分离技术的前提。这项工作将产生的一项关键使能技术是开发廉价、方便和可制造的方法来创建集成流体电路，允许从宏观流体处理(例如吸管)过渡到纳米尺度。该计划将支持两名学生和一名博士后研究人员。UNM是一家西班牙裔服务机构，有大量的西班牙裔和美洲原住民学生；调查人员的实验室已经在非常积极地招募和留住学生。

ABSTRACTNSF-0515684Brueck, StevenDetection of chemical and biological warfare (CBW) agents is a con-tinuing challenge. The amounts of CBW agent sufficient to cause harm to humans are very small, requiring exceptional sensitivity; often, rapid identification and remediation is necessary; widely dispersed, inexpensive sensors are required to monitor large areas for agents; and, perhaps the most worrisome, the variety of possible agents is virtually unbounded. With advances in biological synthesis capabilities, creation of new CBW agents is no longer exclusively a nation-state enterprise.This development demands a new approach to monitoring. In order to meet the sensitivity and areal distribution requirements, a chip-scale technology, sensitive to a variety of agent classes, requiring only very small (picoliter) volumes and with integral preconcentration processes is required. The broad goal of this work is to establish the basic understanding andthe technological methodologies necessary to implement high-density arrays of nanoscale channels as versatile, sensitive and selective components for chip-scale biodetection systems that will allow response to a wide variety of CBW agents. Nanofluidic separation and detection (providing the picoliter sensitivity) and smart, functionalized receptor bead microcolumns (providing the preconcentration and selectivity). Technologies are brought together. A fundamental understanding of the physical phenomena involved in nanoscale transport of complex fluids is a prerequisite for the development of the new generation of bio-separationtechnologies. A key enabling technology that will emerge from this effort is the development of inexpensive, facile and manufacturable means for creating integrated fluidic circuits that allow the transition from macroscopic fluid handling (e.g., pipettes) to nanoscale dimensions.This program will support two students and one postdoctoral re-searcher. UNM is a Hispanic Serving Institution with large populations of Hispanic and Native American students;very active recruitment and retention efforts are already underway in the labs of the investigators.