RAPID: Mixed-Dimensional Heterostructure Materials based SERS for Trace Level Fingerprint Identification of SARS-CoV-2 RNA

目前世界各地使用的新型冠状病毒感染(新冠肺炎)诊断测试需要大量时间来确认结果，通常需要一天以上的时间。此时此刻，世界各地迫切需要一个冠状病毒快速检测平台。这一快速项目将开发出灵敏、快速和简单易用的光学技术，利用拉曼光谱检测病毒核糖核酸，从而具有特异性识别新冠肺炎的能力。本项目的目标是设计新的基于材料的健壮光学平台来检测痕量级别的病毒RNA。这将通过测量新冠肺炎核糖核酸的拉曼信号来实现。预期的结果是一种基于纳米材料的技术，支撑着一种便携式设备，用于准确和即时地诊断新冠肺炎病毒感染。拟议的研究将使缓解新冠肺炎对公共卫生、社会和经济的负面影响的方法成为可能。这项快速反应研究(RAPID)拨款由数学和物理科学局材料研究部材料研究和教育伙伴关系(PREM)计划资助，并由HBCU-EIR计划联合资助。敏感和快速识别新冠肺炎的基于材料的新技术对于应对新冠肺炎疫情威胁非常重要。本项目将有助于开发基于混合维异质结构的新型表面增强拉曼光谱(SERS)平台，用于高效、快速地识别SARS-CoV-2RNA的指纹。具体地说，目标包括开发创新的2D-0D、1D-0D和2D-1D异质结构构建块，并创造基于异质结构的新型SERS平台技术。这种混合维度的异质结构材料将为SERS平台的设计带来革命性的进步。SERS平台将提供准确的新冠肺炎核糖核酸识别，可用于临床和现场设置。RAPID计划将成为非裔美国学生科学研究、技术开发和教育活动之间的桥梁。这笔赠款是使用冠状病毒援助、救济和经济安全(CARE)法案提供的资金授予MPS的补充资金。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Current novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) diagnostic tests, used worldwide, take significant time, typically more than a day, to confirm results. There is an urgent need for a rapid coronavirus test platform throughout the world at this moment. This RAPID project will develop sensitive, fast and simple-to-use optical techniques to detect viral-RNA using Raman spectroscopy, which has capability for specific identification of COVID-19. The goal of this project is to design new material-based robust optical platform to detect trace level virus RNA. This will be accomplished by measuring the Raman signal from COVID-19 RNA. The expected outcome is a nanomaterial based technology underlying a portable device for accurate and immediate diagnosis of viral infections from COVID-19. The proposed research will enable approaches that mitigate the negative impacts of COVID-19 on public health, society, and the economy. This Rapid Response Research (RAPID) grant supports research with funding from the Partnerships for Research and Education in Materials (PREM) Program in the Division of Materials Research of the Mathematical and Physical Sciences Directorate, with co-funding from the HBCU-EiR program.Novel material-based technologies for sensitive and rapid identification of COVID-19 is very important to tackle COVID-19 epidemic threat. The current project will contribute towards the development of novel mixed dimensional heterostructure based surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) platform for highly efficient and immediate fingerprint identification of SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Specifically, the objectives include development of innovative 2D-0D, 1D-0D, and 2D-1D heterostructure building blocks and creating novel heterostructure-based SERS platform-based technology. The mixed-dimensional heterostructure material will offer opportunities for revolutionary advances in designing SERS platform. The SERS platform will provide accurate identification of the COVID-19 RNA, which can be used in both clinical and field settings. The RAPID program will serve as the bridge among scientific research, technological development, and educational activities for African American students.This grant is being awarded using funds made available by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act supplemental funds allocated to MPS.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.