EXP-SA: Highly Selective and Sensitive Nanocoatings for Explosives Detection

项目编号：0731309PI: Lee， sesewukinstitution: University of California berkeley标题：ex - sa：用于爆炸物检测的高选择性和敏感纳米涂层目的：本研究旨在开发一种新的便携式传感器家族，能够检测小浓度的TNT， DNT或霍乱毒素。PI将首先利用病毒的生物选择和进化，以开发序列特异性生物聚合物，这种聚合物可以结合多个位点的单个目标分子，这将导致比传统生物传感器更高的能量结合和选择性。然后，他将开发新的涂层来嵌入这些聚合物，从而允许使用纳米机械悬臂和膜来读取结果，并构建一个完整的传感器系统。这些生物聚合物的发展和理解将需要研究基本的热力学问题，例如当结合同时发生在多个位点时，焓和自由能在影响结合和灵敏度方面的相对作用。温度在这些问题上的作用，以及对传感器性能的影响，也将被研究。更广泛的好处：直接的好处将是爆炸物探测，国家安全和国土安全。进一步的应用被设想为空气和水传播的农药和其他毒素的环境监测，霉菌和过敏原的个人暴露监测，食品腐败检测，通过呼吸分析检测疾病等。

Proposal Number: 0731309PI: Lee, Seung-WukInstitution: University of California BerkeleyTitle: EXP-SA: Highly Selective and Sensitive Nanocoatings for Explosives DetectionObjectiveThis research aims to develop a new family of portable sensors able to detect small concentrations of TNT, DNT or cholera toxin. The PI will first use biological selection and evolution of viruses, in order to develop sequence-specific biopolymers which can bind to a single target molecule in multiple sites, which should result in a high energy binding and selectivity far greater than possible with traditional biosensors. Then he will develop new coatings to embed these polymers into, so as to permit the use of nanomechanical cantilevers and membranes to read out the results, and construct a complete sensor system.Intellectual MeritThe development and understanding of these biopolymers will entail research into basic thermodynamic issues, such as the relative roles of enthalpy versus free energy in affecting binding and sensitivity when binding occurs at multiple sites at once. The role of temperature on these issues, and on sensor performance, will also be studied.Broader BenefitsThe immediate benefits will be to explosives detection, for national security and homeland security. Further applications are envisioned for environmental monitoring for airborne and water borne pesticides and other toxins, personal exposure monitoring of molds and allergens, detection of food spoilage, disease detection through breath analysis, etc.