Fundamental Studies of Silica Imprinted Nanostructures

在分析和表面化学项目的支持下，布法罗大学、纽约州立大学的Frank Bright教授和他的小组正在研究开发用于检测和定量各种分析物的无试剂纳米光学传感器。 这项工作解决了三个主要目标：（i）在多孔硅材料表面创建具有硅量子点的分子印迹传感器;（ii）阐明印迹/表面化学和纳米级特征尺寸对分析品质因数的影响;以及（iii）评估设备对各种小分子和蛋白质分析物的适用性。 该研究所开发的特定化学、技术、方法和理论基础将为在复杂环境中检测小分子靶标和蛋白质提供一个强大的平台。除了该研究的更广泛的科学影响外，该研究还将导致在Bright教授的实验室培训女性和代表性不足的少数民族学生和博士后研究人员。 Bright教授和他的博士后和研究生同事也将参加布法罗美国原住民磁铁学校的教育和推广工作，为年轻的美国印第安学生提供有意义的教育机会。

With support from the Analytical and Surface Chemistry Program, Prof. Frank Bright of the University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, and his group are studying the development of reagentless nanoscopic optical sensors for detecting and quantifying a wide variety of analytes. The work addresses three main aims: (i) creation of molecularly imprinted sensors with silicon quantum dots in porous silicon material surfaces; (ii) elucidating the effects of imprinting/surface chemistry and nanoscopic feature size on analytical figures of merit; and (iii) assessing device applicability to a variety of small molecule and protein analytes. The specific chemistry, techniques, methods and theoretical underpinnings developed in this research will provide a powerful platform for detecting small molecular targets and proteins in complex milieu.In addition to the broader scientific impact of the research, the research will result in the training of female and underrepresented minority students and postdoctoral researchers in Prof. Bright's laboratories. Prof. Bright and his postdoctoral and graduate student colleagues will also be participating in educational and outreach efforts at Buffalo's Native American Magnet School to provide meaningful educational opportunities for young American Indian students.