Center for NanoBiotechnology Research

纳米生物技术研究中心（CNBR）于2007年在亚拉巴马州立大学成立，是NSF科学技术卓越研究中心（CREST）。 第二阶段中心将扩大和加强亚拉巴马州的主要研究活动，该研究活动已成为一所大学研究奖学金发展的典范，该大学仅在十年前是一所主要的本科院校，只有少量资助STEM研究活动。 第一阶段奖（HRD-0734232）培训了26名研究生，导致了前3名博士生在亚拉巴马州立大学（所有程序），导致第一批专利被授予亚利桑那州立大学，使世界一流的研究基础设施，导致新的课程开发，并导致国家和国际合作的形成。 目前的纳米技术基础设施能够合成，分析和应用纳米材料到生物系统中。第二阶段CREST奖将促进纳米生物技术和纳米基因组学的发展，这具有开发新一代治疗和诊断工具的潜力。新的研究项目，将包括CNBR的学术活动将建立在第一阶段的活动，建立在纳米生物技术在亚拉巴马州的坚实基础。 该中心将成为CREST目标的领导者，以发展多样化，先进的STEM劳动力，并应在未来5年内定位，以有效地竞争来自NSF，NIH和其他州和联邦机构以及行业的主要支持。 本研究围绕以下子课题展开：1. 抗RSV多功能纳米生物材料及其对宿主和病毒基因组的影响的评估第一个项目通过探索纳米材料专门针对病毒进行纳米病毒学研究。病毒特异性生物分子（抗肽和siRNA）具有已知的特性，将用于功能化纳米材料，并将其应用于抑制病毒复制. 纳米生物材料作为抗菌剂第二个项目的重点是纳米材料对细菌的应用。市场上有许多抗生素，但它们对许多细菌具有耐药性，因此需要设计新的抗菌药物。该研究小组将开发和应用新型纳米材料，可以摧毁细菌并阻止其生长。主要目标是了解纳米材料杀死细菌的机制。 使用新型纳米材料调节免疫细胞：融合纳米免疫学和纳米基因组学第三个项目将探索可以非特异性增强免疫功能和减少疾病表现的新型材料。 建议的纳米生物材料将使用纳米科学工具和技术在生物系统中合成，表征和测试。智力MeritThe第二阶段CREST奖将促进纳米生物技术和纳米基因组学的发展，这具有开发新一代治疗和诊断工具的潜力。 这三个子项目的研究目标相互重叠。 这三个项目都将分析宿主和病原体的基因，并使用生物信息学工具分析数据。此外，蛋白质组学将用于所有项目，这些项目将研究纳米生物材料在功能水平上的影响。所有项目都有分析纳米材料和样品的通用方法。该项目的相关性和协同作用基于：1）纳米材料的合成/表征，2）宿主和病原体的基因组研究，3）响应纳米生物材料的基因产物的蛋白质组学研究。 更广泛的影响CNBR将成为CREST目标的领导者，以发展多样化，先进的STEM劳动力，并应在未来5年内定位，以有效地竞争来自NSF，NIH和其他州和联邦机构以及行业的主要支持。第一阶段中心的支持导致建立了优秀的研究基础设施，以培训少数民族学生的纳米生物技术，从而增加了受过良好训练的少数民族学生的科学劳动力的数量。第二阶段CNBR将继续增加博士学位中少数民族的数量。计划和劳动力在纳米生物技术和纳米基因组学。该中心将在新课程开发、本科生研究机会和让学生接触创业方面发挥领导作用。该中心将继续影响亚拉巴马州的大量选民，为高中生提供机会，接待政要，并提供向公众开放的研讨会和讲习班。该中心将与超过15个美国机构，4个NSF中心，6个NSF资助的项目（MSP，RISE，HBCU-UP，SBIR，C2 RII，PIRE）合作，并将影响大量不同的选民。该中心将继续与全球合作伙伴合作，培养在新兴科学技术领域具有全球竞争力的学生和教师。 该奖项的部分资金来自国家科学基金会的实验计划，以刺激竞争性研究。

The Center for NanoBiotechnology Research (CNBR) was established at Alabama State University in 2007 as a NSF Center of Research Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST). The Phase II Center will expand and strengthen a major research activity at Alabama State, which has become a model for the development of research scholarship at a university that only a decade ago was a primarily undergraduate institution with only a small amount of funded STEM research activity. The Phase I award (HRD-0734232) trained 26 graduate students, led to the first 3 PhD students at Alabama State University (all programs), led to the first patents being awarded to ASU, enabled a world-class research infrastructure, led to new curricula development, and led to the formation of national and international collaborations. The nanotechnology infrastructure now in place is capable of synthesizing, analyzing and applying nanomaterials into biological systems.The Phase II CREST award will enable the advancement of nanobiotechnology and nanogenomics, which has the potential for development of a new generation of therapies and diagnostic tools. The new research projects that will comprise the scholarly activity of the CNBR will build on the Phase I activities that established a solid foundation at Alabama State in nanobiotechnology. The Center will be a leader in the CREST goals to develop a diverse, advanced STEM workforce and should be positioned within the next 5 years to compete effectively for major support from NSF, NIH, and other state and federal agencies, as well as industry. The proposed research is organized around the following subprojects:1. Evaluation of Anti-RSV Multi-functionalized Nanobiomaterials and Their Effect on Host and Viral GenomesThe first project embarks on nanovirology by exploring nanomaterials to specifically target a virus. Virus specific biomolecules (anti-peptide and siRNA) with known properties will be used to functionalize nanomaterials and apply them to inhibit virus replication.2. Nanobiomaterials as Anti-bacterial AgentsThe second project focuses on applications of nanomaterials against bacteria. Many antibiotics are in the market but are resistant to many bacteria, necessitating the design of new classes of anti-bacterials. The research team will develop and apply novel nanomaterials that can destroy bacteria and stop their growth. The main goal is to understand the mechanisms by which nanomaterials kill bacteria.3. Regulation of Immune Cells Using Novel Nanomaterials: Merging Nanoimmunology and NanogenomicsThe third project will explore novel materials that could non-specifically enhance immune functions and reduce disease manifestations. Proposed nano-biomaterials will be synthesized, characterized and tested in biological systems using nanoscience tools and techniques.Intellectual MeritThe Phase II CREST award will enable the advancement of nanobiotechnology and nanogenomics, which has the potential for development of a new generation of therapies and diagnostic tools. The three subprojects have overlapping research objectives. All three projects will analyze genes from host as well as pathogens and use bioinformatics tools to analyze data. In addition, proteomics will be used by all projects which will study the impact of nanobiomaterials at the functional levels. All projects have common methods for analyzing nanomaterials and samples. The project relevancy and synergy are based on: 1) synthesis/characterization of nanomaterials, 2) genomic studies of host and pathogen, 3) proteomic studies of gene products in response to nanobiomaterials. Broader ImpactThe CNBR will be a leader in the CREST goals to develop a diverse, advanced STEM workforce and should be positioned within the next 5 years to compete effectively for major support from NSF, NIH, and other state and federal agencies, as well as industry. The Phase I center support has resulted in the establishment of excellent research infrastructure to train minority students in nanobiotechnology, thus increasing the number of well-trained minority students for the scientific workforce. The Phase II CNBR will continue to increase the number of minorities in the Ph.D. program and the workforce in nanobiotechnology and nanogenomics. The center will provide leadership in new curricula development, undergraduate research opportunities and expose students to entrepreneurship. The center will continue to impact a large number of constituents in the state of Alabama by providing opportunities to high school students, hosting dignitaries, and offering seminars and workshops open to the general public. The center will work with over 15 U.S. institutions, 4 NSF centers, 6 NSF-funded programs (MSP, RISE, HBCU-UP, SBIR, C2 RII, PIRE) and will impact a large and diverse number of constituents. The center will continue to work with global partners to prepare students and faculty who are globally competitive in emerging scientific technologies. This award has been partially funded through the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research at the National Science Foundation.