Fluid Sensors from Hybrid Nanocolloids with Molecular Springs

本研究的目的是创造一种新型的发光波长依赖于分析物浓度的生物传感器。这种全新的生物传感器将类似于石蕊试纸pH值测试，以可靠和简单而闻名。生物分子的分析通常在浑浊和异质介质中进行，如组织，引起强度的强烈波动。波长转导可能是在这种情况下唯一可靠的传感方法。这种方法是用纳米粒子来设计这种传感器——纳米线的上层结构由聚乙二醇低聚物连接到抗体上。蛋白质的结合导致纳米线和纳米颗粒之间的间隙发生变化，因此，发射波长发生变化。这个项目的智力价值将是：(1)基于发射能量（而不是强度）的生物传感器的发展；(2)理解纳米颗粒和纳米线之间相互作用的规则。该项目的广泛影响是微流体和生物传感领域的使能技术，这将导致新的强效药物和新的诊断工具的开发。拟议的设备还将有助于进行更复杂的水质控制，以及生物医学研究的新工具。此外，该项目还开展了与传感器研究相关的教育工作，让中学生接触到纳米技术的迷人世界。这两个pi都有长期为K-12学生提供志愿服务的记录。

The objective of this research is to create a new type of biosensor with luminescence wavelength dependent on analyte concentration. This fundamentally new type of biosensor will be analogous to the litmus paper pH test know for reliable and simplicity. Analysis of biomolecules often carried out in turbid and heterogeneous media, such as tissue, causing strong fluctuations of intensity. Wavelength transduction can be the only dependable method of sensing in such conditions. The approach is to engineer such sensors from nanoparticles-nanowire superstructures connected by polyethylene glycole oligomers bound to an antibody. Binding of a protein results in the change in the gap between the nanowire and nanoparticles, and therefore, in the change of the emission wavelength. Intellectual Merit of this project will be the (1) development of biosensors based on energy of emission (not intensity) and (2) understanding the rules of interactions between the nanoparticles and nanowires. Broader impact of this project is an enabling technology for the fields of microfluidics and biosensing, which will lead to the development of new potent drugs and new diagnostic tools. The proposed devices will also help to carry out more sophisticated water quality control, and new tools for biomedical research. Additionally, the project has educational efforts associated with the sensor research with middle/high school students and exposing them to the fascinating world of nanotechnology. Both PIs have a long record of volunteer outreach work with K-12 students.