PECASE: Plasmonic Multiplexed Bio-Detection and Spectroscopy Systems

目的：大量蛋白质的检测和定量及其功能的确定是我们理解细胞生理学的基础。鉴定大量蛋白质之间的相互作用对于诊断癌症和阿尔茨海默氏症等复杂疾病以及发现新药也至关重要。尽管蛋白质的大规模研究由于如此深远的影响而具有重要意义，但其实现具有挑战性。拟议研究的目的是展示新的生物检测系统，用于蛋白质的完整分析，范围从蛋白质功能的鉴定到蛋白质的多重检测和动力学分析。这一建议的智力价值在于研究等离子体中的全新概念，并探索耦合和多耦合中的等离子体相互作用。层状金属纳米结构用于发明强大的生物检测平台。为了通过实验证明引入的概念，PI还将开发创新的制造方案;将纳米光子检测系统与纳米流体和生物图案化相结合。更广泛的影响：所提出的方法可以适用于检测其他生物实体以及化学品和气体。因此，该项目中探索的检测系统不仅可以应用于生物科学，还可以应用于公共卫生和国家安全。拟议的教育活动将向公众宣传纳米技术的发展和研究成果，并提高社会对工程学令人兴奋的新挑战的认识。为了对公共教育产生更广泛的影响，PI将与波士顿合作？科学博物馆。为了接触妇女和代表性不足的少数民族，PI将继续为当地的教育计划做出贡献，如波士顿向上的数学和科学和波士顿大学？的夏季挑战工程计划。对于本科教育，PI将在她为波士顿大学工程学院最近实施的纳米技术集中介绍的新课程中添加实验模块。

Objective: Detection and quantification of large numbers of proteins and determination of their functions is fundamental to our understanding of cellular physiology. Identification of interactions among large numbers of proteins is also crucial for diagnostics of complex diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer's as well as for discovery of novel drugs. Although large-scale study of proteins is significant due to such far-reaching implications, its realization is challenging. The objective of the proposed research is to demonstrate new bio-detection systems for complete profiling of proteins ranging from identification of their functions to multiplexed detection and kinetic analysis of proteins.Intellectual merit: The intellectual merit of this proposal lies in the investigation of fundamentally new concepts in plasmonics and exploration of plasmonic interactions in coupled and multi-layered metallic nanostructures for the invention of powerful bio-detection platforms. To experimentally demonstrate the introduced concepts, PI will also develop innovative fabrication schemes; integrate nanophotonic detection systems with nanofluidics and bio-patterning.Broader Impact: The proposed methodologies can be adapted to detect other biological entities as well as chemicals and gases. Thus, the detection systems explored in this project could find applications not only in biological sciences but also in public health and national security. The proposed educational activities will disseminate the developments in nanotechnology and research results to the public and also increase the society's awareness on exciting new challenges in engineering. To make a broader impact on public education, PI will work with Boston?s Museum of Science. To reach women and underrepresented minorities, PI will continue to contribute to the local educational programs such as Boston Upward Bound Math and Science and Boston University?s Summer Challenge program on engineering. For undergraduate education, PI will add experimental modules to the new courses that she introduced for the recently implemented nanotechnology concentration in Boston University College of Engineering.