CAREER: Biomimetic Nanostructured Semiconductors for Controlled Electrical Interfacing with Single Cells

该奖项由芝加哥大学材料研究部生物材料项目颁发，旨在研究生物细胞和无机材料之间界面信号转导的基本限制。本研究的目的是研究纳米级半导体的表面形貌和化学性质对其与哺乳动物细胞的结构和电界面的影响。所提出的研究将有可能产生一种新的生物材料平台，用于进行单细胞活动的电记录，它将比传统的荧光或微电极技术具有更高的时空分辨率和更好的信噪比。这项工作将采用材料化学、生物物理学和细胞生物学实验的综合方法。在这项工作中提出的材料和装置可以潜在地产生用于生物医学应用的高灵敏度装置。作为该职业奖的一部分，提出了一个综合教育目标，即创造一个研究密集型的学习环境，以教育学生纳米结构半导体、生物材料和生物物理学等学科。根据研究结果，将开发教育材料、演示和网络教程。芝加哥大学现有的示范项目将通过向高中生和本科生提供暑期研究机会来增加科学和工程领域的多样性。最后，正在启动的两个国际暑期交流项目将允许本科生和研究生与中国或以色列的合作者一起工作。来自单个细胞的电信号可以调节它们的功能。这位研究者早期的研究表明，这些信号可以用纳米级材料和设备来测量。提出的研究是为了获得对纳米材料和设备记录这些电活动的机制的基本理解。本研究计划采用材料化学、生物物理学和细胞生物学的综合实验方法。在这项工作中提出的材料和装置可以潜在地产生用于生物医学应用的高灵敏度装置。这些研究活动将为学生在高度跨学科的研究环境中提供学习机会。该研究还将提供独特的知识和技能，可以在半导体或探测器行业开辟新的领域。除了芝加哥大学现有的外展项目外，还计划在中国或以色列进行海外学习，为美国学生提供对其他国家科学家和工程师的认识和终身赞赏。

This Career award by the Biomaterials program in the Division of Materials Research to the University of Chicago is to investigate the fundamental limits of signal transduction at the interface between biological cells and inorganic materials. The objectives of this proposal are to investigate the effect of surface morphology and chemistry of nanoscale semiconductors on their structural and electrical interfaces with mammalian cells. The proposed study will potentially yield a new biomaterials platform for conducting electrical recording of single cell activities, which will have much higher spatiotemporal resolutions and better signal to noise ratio than conventional fluorescence or microelectrode based techniques. This work will adopt an integrative approach involving experiments in materials chemistry, biophysics and cell biology. The materials and devices proposed in this work can potentially yield highly sensitive devices for biomedical applications. As part of this Career award, an integrated educational goal is proposed to create a research-intensive learning environment to educate students on subjects of nanostructured semiconductors, biomaterials and biophysics. Based on research results, educational materials, demonstrations, and web tutorials will be developed. Existing model programs at the University of Chicago will be used to increase diversity in science and engineering by offering summer research opportunities to high school and undergraduate students. Finally, two international summer exchange programs are being launched that will allow the undergraduate and graduate students to work with collaborators in China or Israel.Electrical signals from single cells can regulate their functioning. Earlier studies by this investigator have shown that these signals can be measured using nanoscale materials and devices. The proposed research is to gain a fundamental understanding of the mechanisms by which nanoscale materials and devices record these electrical activities. This work plans to adopt an integrative approach involving experiments in materials chemistry, biophysics and cell biology. The materials and devices proposed in this work can potentially yield highly sensitive devices for biomedical applications. The research activities will provide learning opportunities for students in a highly interdisciplinary research environment. The study will also provide a unique knowledge and skill set that can open new areas of endeavor in the semiconductor or detector industry. In addition to existing outreach programs at the University of Chicago, overseas studies in China or Israel will be planned to provide the US students with an awareness and lifelong appreciation of scientists and engineers in other countries.