Collaborative Research: A Miniaturized Uropathogen Detection System

本研究的目的是研究并实现一种基于微流体的小型尿路病原体检测系统，用于快速检测细菌病原体。该方法是：1)使用分子探针生物传感器来靶向引起尿路感染（UTI）的四种重要病原体，包括大肠杆菌、铜绿假单胞菌、奇异变形杆菌和肠球菌；2)集成纳米技术的流体阀来控制微流体通道中的流体；3)将传感和流体模块集成在小型化芯片上，以消除对熟练技术人员的要求。本研究的知识价值包括使用分子生物传感器对细菌16S rRNA进行单步杂交，这是一种描述良好的细菌？分子指纹吗?。单步杂交减轻了复杂的样品制备步骤。纳米技术支持的流体阀利用纳米结构表面疏水性的动态调制。这些纳米结构大约是10？5纳米高，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。小型化尿路病原体检测系统大大简化了目前的标准程序，这些程序是劳动密集型的，耗时的，并且需要一个集中的实验室。这项研究的更广泛影响包括一个小型化的检测系统，可以在分散的环境中操作，如医生？美国办公室、机场或战场。这项研究将在教育方面进行整合，包括i)课程开发，ii)学生培训，iii)本科生和少数民族研究机会，以及iv)外展计划。

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.