CAREER: Ultra-sensitive Real-time Acoustic Resonant Liquid Mass Sensor for Tag-free Disease Diagnostic Screening

本研究的目标是在液体环境中开发一种创新的实时声共振质量传感平台。该方法基于一种新的灵敏实时质量传感器，其特征是在各种传感隔膜上具有各种生物质和涂层。此外，生物质测试将扩展到实际医疗应用。所提出的研究的智力优点包括：1)通过保持液体中的高Q，将FBAR的检测能力提高了几个数量级；2)利用传感膜片将液体阻尼效应与传感器的工作频率分离，实现液体有效质量加载的新概念；3)通过减少能量损失来提高Q；4)工作温度范围广，适应性强；5)超灵敏液体质量传感器在疾病诊断筛查中的应用。这种快速、简单且具有成本效益的液体质量传感器有可能改变早期疾病检测领域，并对各种临床和医疗保健应用产生重大影响。作为另一个更广泛的影响，将执行一项新的教育努力，采用互动式教学方法，重点是微型装置和系统的可靠性问题。该教育计划将侧重于增加未被充分代表的少数民族的参与，为高中生提供早期接触微/纳米技术（和职业发展机会）的机会。

The objective of this reseasrch is to develop an innovative real-time acoustic resonant mass sensing platform in liquid environments. The approach is based on a new sensitive and real-time mass sensor, which will be characterized with various biomasses and coatings over various sensing diaphragms. Furthermore, the biomass testing will be extended to a real medical application. The intellectual merits of the proposed research include: 1) increase in the detection capacity of the FBAR by orders of magnitude by maintaining high Q in the liquid; 2) utilization of a sensing diaphragm to implement the novel concept of effective mass loading in the liquid by separating liquid damping effect from the operating frequency of the sensor; 3) improvement of Q by reducing energy loss; 4) reliable adaptability in wide range of operating temperatures; and 5) utilization of the ultra sensitive liquid mass sensor for disease diagnostic screening applications. Such rapid, simple and cost effective liquid mass sensors have the potential to transform the field of early disease detection and to make significant impact on various clinical and healthcare applications. As another broader impact, a new educational effort with interactive pedagogical approach will be implemented with an emphasis on reliability issues of micro-devices and systems. The education program will focus on increasing participation of underrepresented minorities, providing high school students with early exposure to (and career development opportunities in) micro/nanotechnology.