Collaborative Research: A Miniaturized Uropathogen Dectection System

本研究的目的是研究并实现一种基于微流控技术的微型尿路病原体检测系统，用于细菌病原体的快速检测。 方法是i）使用分子探针生物传感器针对四种重要病原体，包括大肠杆菌、铜绿假单胞菌、奇异变形杆菌和肠球菌。导致尿路感染（UTI），ii）集成纳米技术使能的流体阀，以控制微流体通道中的流体，和iii）集成传感和流体模块都在一个小型化的芯片上，以消除熟练的technics.The智力这项研究的优点包括使用分子生物传感器的细菌16S rRNA，这是一个很好的描述细菌的单步杂交？分子指纹？单步杂交减少了复杂的样品制备步骤。 纳米技术使能的流体阀利用纳米结构表面的疏水性的动态调制。 这些纳米结构是约10？纳米高的，但足以阻止流体在微米高的通道中流动。 分子生物传感器和纳米阀集成在一个基于微流体的平台上，该平台配备了片上加热和样品输送功能。 微型化的尿路病原体检测系统大大简化了目前的标准程序，这是劳动密集型，耗时，并需要一个集中的laborator.The更广泛的影响，这项研究包括一个微型化的检测系统，可以在分散的设置，如医生？无论是办公室、机场还是战场。该研究将整合在教育战线，包括i）课程开发，ii）学生培训，iii）本科生和少数民族的研究机会，以及iv）推广计划。

The objective of this research is to study and implement a miniaturized microfluidic-based uropathogen detection system for rapid detection of bacterial pathogens. The approach is i) to use molecular probe biosensors for targeting four important pathogens including Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis, and Enterococcus spp. that cause urinary tract infections (UTI), ii) to integrate nanotechnology-enabled fluidic valves to control fluids in microfluidic channels, and iii) to integrate sensing and fluidic modules all on a miniaturized chip to eliminate the requirement of skilled technicians.The intellectual merit of this research includes the use of molecular biosensors for single step hybridization of bacterial 16S rRNA, which is a well described bacterial ?molecular fingerprint?. The single step hybridization mitigates the complicated sample preparation steps. The nanotechnology-enabled fluidic valves utilize the dynamic modulation of the hydrophobicity of the surface of nanostructures. These nanostructures are approximately 10?s of nanometers tall, yet are sufficient to block fluid flow in micrometer height channels. The molecular biosensor and the nano-valves are integrated on a microfluidic-based platform that is equipped with on-chip heating and sample delivery functions. The miniaturized uropathogen detection system significantly simplifies current standard procedures that are labor-intensive, time consuming, and require a centralized laboratory.The broader impacts of this research include a miniaturized detection system that can be operated in decentralized settings such as a physician?s office, airports, or battlefield. The research will be integrated across educational fronts including i) course development, ii) student training, iii) undergraduate and minority research opportunities, and iv) outreach programs.