Nanoporous Silicon Optical Waveguide Cavities for Real-Time Biological Sensing

该奖项由美国复苏与再投资法案2009年(公法111-5)资助。这一由生物传感/CBET计划授予的NSF奖项支持马里兰大学帕克分校的墨菲教授开发无标签生物传感器的工作，该传感器使用光波导和由纳米多孔硅组成的谐振腔。纳米多孔硅是一种独特的材料，具有许多吸引生物传感器的特点，包括非常高的比表面积与体积比，简单而廉价的制造技术，以及适合与硅电子集成。这种传感器被设计用来测量当生物分子附着在内表面时，多孔硅波导的折射率发生的微小变化。除了有望提高灵敏度外，这种方法可能比需要荧光标记的传统技术更快、更便宜。作为一个目标应用，他们将探索检测Pron的可能性，Prion是导致传染性海绵状脑病的蛋白质分子。除了这些智力目标外，该项目还将为本科生提供暑期研究机会，为高中生提供指导，并将促进化学家、生物学家和光学工程师之间的多学科合作。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).0932673MurphyThis NSF award by the Biosensing /CBET program supports work by Professor Murphy at University of Maryland College Park to develop a label-free biosensor that uses optical waveguides and resonant cavities comprised of nanoporous silicon. Nanoporous silicon is a unique material with several features that make it attractive for biological sensors, including a very high surface area to volume ratio, simple and inexpensive fabrication techniques, and suitability for integration with silicon electronics. The proposed sensor is designed to measure small changes in the refractive index of porous silicon waveguides that occur when biological molecules attach to the internal surfaces. In addition to the promise of improved sensitivity, this approach could be faster and less expensive than conventional techniques that require fluorescent labels. As a target application, they will explore the possibility of detecting prions, the protein molecules responsible for transmissible spongiform encephalopathies.Beyond these intellectual goals, the project will also provide summer research opportunities for undergraduate students, mentoring for high-school students, and will promote multidisciplinary collaboration between chemists, biologists and optical engineers.