I-Corps: Point-of-use microfluidics-based electrochemical platform for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) detection in source water

I-Corps项目的更广泛影响/商业潜力是开发一种基于微流体的使用点电化学平台，用于检测水源中的全氟和多氟烷基物质（PFAS）。人类接触PFAS是一个公共卫生问题。使用点电化学PFAS检测设备的商业化将提供一种现场、经济高效的便携式技术来检测新出现的污染物，从而显著改善水质。它提供了一个独特的可更换的捕获分子的墨盒系统，与传感器模块无缝集成，以测试污染物的目录。使用点设备自动化样品分析，并以易于理解的格式显示实验室质量结果，消除了对笨重设备，繁琐的样品制备和训练有素的实验室技术人员的需要。这个简单的显示器解决了目前市场上可用的PFAS测试的主要问题。此外，该设备将是快速、可靠和负担得起的，使其非常适合在资源匮乏或服务不足的地区使用，这些地区无法获得先进的设备。模块化快速设备的可用性将使研究人员能够快速优化和快速响应。由于该传感器可针对各种潜在污染物、威胁和疾病进行定制，因此可能具有多种应用。I-Corps项目的基础是开发一种快速、敏感、选择性、可现场部署、基于微流体的点电化学传感器平台。该平台将非平面交错电极与微流控通道集成在一起，微流控通道由一种称为金属有机框架的工程纳米多孔材料填充。与当前一代电化学生物传感器相比，该平台具有显著的优势。电极纳米孔减轻非特异性吸附和克服扩散限制，导致快速信号采集。微电极设计导致高信噪比，从而提高灵敏度。灵敏度和选择性可以使用剪切力（使用流量控制）作为调谐参数来解耦。该设备目前对全氟辛烷磺酸（PFOS）的检测限为0.5 ng/L，远低于美国环境保护署在饮用水中70 ng/L或70 ppt的健康咨询水平。最后，开发的传感器的模块化特性允许传感器从捕获分子界面解耦。该传感器可以很容易地通过包装不同的捕获分子特异性材料来检测饮用水中许多不同的新出现的污染物，如GenX化合物和重金属。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project is the development of a point-of-use, microfluidics-based electrochemical platform for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) detection in source water. Human exposure to PFAS is a public health concern. The commercialization of a point-of-use electrochemical PFAS detection device will significantly improve water quality by providing an on-site, cost-effective portable technology to detect emerging contaminants. It offers a unique replaceable cartridge system of capture molecules that integrates seamlessly with the sensor module to test for a catalog of contaminants. The point-of-use device automates sample analysis and displays lab-quality results in an easily understood format, eliminating the need for bulky equipment, tedious sample preparation, and trained laboratory technicians. This simple display solves major issues of PFAS tests currently available in the market. Additionally, the device will be rapid, reliable, and affordable, making it ideal for use in low-resource or underserved areas with limited access to advanced equipment. The availability of a modular, rapid device will allow researchers to quickly optimize and rapidly respond. As the sensor is tailorable to a variety of potential contaminants, threats, and diseases, it may have multiple applications.This I-Corps project is based on the development of a rapid, sensitive, and selective, field-deployable, microfluidics-based, point-of-use electrochemical sensor platform. The platform integrates non-planar interdigitated electrodes with a microfluidic channel packed with an engineered nanoporous material called metal-organic framework. This platform has significant benefits over the current generation of electrochemical biosensors. Electrode nanoporosity mitigates non-specific adsorption and overcomes diffusion limitations leading to rapid signal acquisition. The microelectrode design results in a high signal-to-noise ratio leading to increased sensitivity. Sensitivity and selectivity can be decoupled using the shear force (controlled using the flow-rate) as a tuning parameter. The device’s current detection limit of 0.5 ng/L for perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is much lower than the US Environmental Protection Agency's health advisory levels of 70 ng/L or 70 ppt in drinking water. Finally, the developed sensor's modular nature allows the sensor to be decoupled from the capture molecule interface. The sensor can be easily adapted by packing different capture molecule-specific materials to detect many different emerging contaminants in drinking water like GenX compounds and heavy metals.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.