International Undergraduate Research Experience: The Development and Application of Novel Micro- and Nano-Sized Sensing Arrays Capable of Detecting Small Molecules

Doane学院是内布拉斯加州克里特岛的一所小型文理学院，它将派遣至少9名理工科本科生和3名博士后到德国卡尔斯鲁厄理工学院（KIT）进行纳米技术研究。每年夏天将有三名学生和一名博士后前往，为期三年。这项工作包括开发一种多功能的纳米级检测工具，这种工具可能会产生很大的社会影响。在德国，Doane的学生将在Michael Hirtz博士和Pavel Levkin博士的实验室工作，他们都以纳米级现象的专业知识而闻名于世。本科生在前往德国之前，将在多恩学院接受广泛的研究培训，以及文化和语言准备。在德国期间，研究小组将从项目中深入了解德国和KIT的研究环境。首席研究员及国际合作者。通过PI，学生团队还将与内布拉斯加州林肯市内布拉斯加州大学纳米混合功能材料中心的研究人员联系起来。这些学生在美国中心地带相对孤立，他们从接触国外文化中受益匪浅，为他们提供了一种新的体验。该项目增加了学生、博士后研究员和教师对合作研究过程的理解，并有可能激励本科生继续他们在科学、技术、工程和数学方面的学习和/或职业。第二部分：与德国卡尔斯鲁厄理工学院（KIT）的研究合作将推进一项名为DETECHIP（检测芯片的缩写）的技术。这是一种经过验证的传感器技术，基于比色和荧光传感元件在暴露于感兴趣的小分子（如滥用药物、爆炸物和杀虫剂）时的差异反应。DETECHIP正在从使用96孔板的宏观液相测试阵列发展到使用压电和喷墨打印的微观固相测试阵列。为了进一步小型化和优化DETECHIP，这项工作将结合浸笔纳米光刻技术（DPN），该技术可用于在新型聚合物表面上进行微纳米级阵列制造。Doane的研究人员将与KIT的合作者合作，将化学传感器整合到KIT生产的两亲性纳米孔（HEMA）聚合物表面上。目标是为检测小分子而统一制造和分析阵列。预期交付成果包括：1)一个小型的微纳米级、聚合物支撑的DETECHIP阵列；2)在本项目期间确定的最佳成像和/或读出技术的台式或便携式分析方法；3)记录结果DETECHIP技术的有效性、易用性和成本效益的报告。这项国际合作为美国博士后和本科生申请德国洪堡、富布赖特和DAAD-RISE奖学金奠定了基础，而德国KIT学生可以参加与多恩学院的学术交流项目。

Part 1:Doane College, a small liberal arts college in Crete, Nebraska, will send at least nine undergraduate science students and three postdoctoral fellows to Germany to conduct nanotechnology research at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). Three students and a postdoctoral fellow will go each summer for the duration of three consecutive years. The work involves the development of a versatile nano-scaled detection tool that could provide a high societal impact. In Germany, Doane students will work in the labs of Dr. Michael Hirtz and Dr. Pavel Levkin, both well-known internationally for their expertise on nano-scale phenomena. The undergraduate students will receive extensive research training, as well as culture and language preparation at Doane College before their departure to Germany. While in Germany, the research team will be given an in-depth orientation to the country and the research setting at KIT from the project?s Principle Investigator and the international collaborators. Through the PI, the student team will also be linked with investigators at the Center for Nanohybrid Functional Materials at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, Nebraska. The students, who are relatively isolated in the US heartland, greatly benefit from the exposure to a culture abroad, providing a new experience for them. The project provides increased student, post-doc fellow, and faculty understanding of the collaborative research process, as well as potentially motivating undergraduates to continue their studies and/or careers in science, technology, engineering and math. Part 2:The research collaboration with the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in Germany will advance a technology called DETECHIP (short for detection chip). This is a proven sensor technology based on differential responses of colorimetric and fluorometric sensing elements upon exposure to small molecules of interest, such as drugs of abuse, explosives, and pesticides. DETECHIP is evolving from a macroscale, liquid-phase-testing array utilizing a 96-well plate to a micro-scale, solid-phase array through the use of piezoelectric and inkjet printing. Seeking to further miniaturize and optimize DETECHIP, this work will incorporate Dip-Pen Nanolithography (DPN) that is available at KIT for micro-to-nanoscale array fabrication on novel polymeric surfaces. In collaboration with the KIT collaborators, the Doane investigators will incorporate the chemical sensors onto amphiphilic nanoporous (HEMA) polymeric surfaces that are produced at KIT.The goal is the uniform fabrication and analysis of arrays for the detection of small molecules. Expected deliverables include: 1) a small micro-to-nanometer-scaled, polymer-supported DETECHIP array; 2) methodology for bench-top or portable analysis with the best imaging and/or read-out technology to be determined during this project period; and 3) reports documenting the efficacy, ease of use, and cost effectiveness of the resulting DETECHIP technology.This international collaboration sets the stage for US post-docs and undergraduates to apply for German Humboldt, Fulbright, and DAAD-RISE fellowships, while German KIT students can participate in academic exchange programs with Doane College.