Collaborative Research: Integrated Microsystem for Ultrasensitive Airborne Pathogen Detection in Real Time

合作研究：集成微系统用于超灵敏的实时空气传播病原体检测本研究的目的是开发一种能够快速、灵敏地监测环境的空气传播病原体传感系统，用于广泛的基础设施中。该方法是开发用于样品收集和制备的微流控操作，以及用于根据病原体的核糖体RNA序列识别病原体的基于量子点的纳米传感器。微流控单元和纳米传感器单元将被集成到一个系统中，其性能将通过对芽孢杆菌孢子的分析来举例说明。基于液滴的微流控操作的使用将最大限度地减少对液体体积的要求，并避免在芯片上构建用于样品处理的移动部件的需要，这既减少了生化试剂的消耗，又降低了构建集成微流控处理系统的复杂性。高灵敏度的rRNA纳米传感器将不再需要聚合酶链式反应(PCR)扩增，从而简化了检测程序和系统集成。这种传感系统将产生更广泛的社会效益，包括(I)立即检测到炭疽热等生物战病原体，以防止它们可能发生的灾难；(Ii)监测交通基础设施、医疗保健建筑和工作场所等环境。此外，这项研究还将对教育产生重大影响，包括：(I)根据研究成果在网上建立微纳科学视觉库；(Ii)通过实验室课程开发微纳科学课程；以及(Iii)让本科生，特别是来自代表性不足群体的本科生参与研究活动。

Collaborative Research: Integrated Microsystem for Ultrasensitive Airborne Pathogen Detection in Real TimeAbstractThe objective of this research is to develop an airborne pathogen sensing system, capable of fast and sensitive environmental monitoring, for use in a broad range of infrastructures. The approach is to develop both microfluidic operations for sample collection and preparation and quantum dots-based nanosensors for identification of pathogens according to their ribosomal RNA sequences. The microfluidic unit and the nanosensor unit will be integrated into a system whose performance will be exemplified through analysis of Bacillus spores. The use of the droplet-based microfluidic operations will minimize the requirement of liquid volume and avoid the need for building moving components on the chip for sample processing that both reduces the consumption of biochemical reagents and the complexity in constructing an integrated microfluidic processing system. The highly sensitive rRNA nanosensors will eliminate the need for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification, thereby simplifying assay protocols and system integration. This sensing system will have broader impacts with the societal benefits including (i) immediate detection of bio-warfare pathogens such as anthrax to prevent their possible catastrophe and (ii) surveillance of environments in, for example, transportation infrastructures, healthcare buildings, and workplaces. Besides, this research will also have significant impacts on education by (i) establishing micro/nano scientific visual library on web based on the research outcome; (ii) developing micro/nano science coursework with a lab session; and (iii) having undergraduates especially from the underrepresented groups to participate in the research activities.