MCA: Precision Electrospinning Training to Enhance Electrokinetic Filtration and Spectroscopy

这笔赠款支持开发先进的纳米纤维制造技术的研究，这些技术将应用于增强型滤光片的制造。研究人员将接受静电纺丝方面的培训，这是一种流体动力学和电动力相结合的技术，可以产生纳米纤维网状结构。更具体地说，静电纺丝使研究人员能够开发出高质量均匀纤维的异质网络，其组成将使过滤方面的进步成为可能。纤维网将由导电和绝缘纤维组成的网络组成，当这些纤维通电时，将产生强大的电力，从而显著增强微粒捕获能力。此外，这种独特的纤维网络可以应用于各种学科，包括生物细胞和纳米颗粒的受控高通量分选。这种特殊的纤维网络将导致智能过滤、流体传输和热传递方面的进步，从而带来影响美国经济和社会的技术进步。候选人的电纺培训将对他所在机构正在进行的多学科研究项目和肯塔基州的制造业利益产生直接影响。所获得的知识将被转移到当地社区：研究人员将开展动手活动，创建一门新的多学科课程，并让高中生参与他们的研究努力。研究目标是制造一种高通量的基于介电纳米纤维的颗粒分选器；这将通过开发一种同时包含导电和绝缘纳米纤维的异质纤维垫来实现。这两种纤维都是重要的场不均匀的来源，极大地增强了整个设备的介电泳力，并实现了一个能够高通量粒子分选的廉价平台，其选择性捕获取决于交流频率。首席研究人员将接受先进静电纺丝方面的培训，以便研究团队能够制造和测试这些不同种类的纳米纤维网络。实验粒子分类结果将与基于物理的数值模拟进行比较。这种制造方法可以放大，使大规模电动纳米纤维的应用超越了它们在微流体设备中的典型用途。电动力学在低成本异质纤维平台中的应用还没有得到充分的探索；在其制造和物理操作极限方面的发现可以促进介电和电流体在有目的地设计的纳米纤维垫中的应用。这位研究人员在电纺方面的培训将影响他所在大学的其他研究活动，包括个人防护装备、高能效超级电容器、心脏重塑细胞支架、廉价神经刺激和原位药物输送方面的进步。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。

This grant supports research in the development of advanced nanofiber fabrication techniques that will be applied towards the manufacturing of enhanced filters. The researchers will be trained in electrospinning, a technique where a combination of fluid dynamic and electrical forces generate a mesh of nanofibers. More specifically, electrospinning enables the researchers to develop a heterogeneous network of high quality uniform fibers whose composition will enable advancements in filtration. The fiber mesh will comprise of a network of electrically conductive and insulative fibers that, when energized, will generate strong electric forces that will significantly enhance particulate trapping capabilities. Further, this unique network of fibers can be applied to various disciplines, including controlled high throughput sorting of biological cells and nanoparticles. This special network of fibers will lead to advancements in smart filtration, fluid transport, and heat transfer, leading to technological advancements that impact the U.S. economy and society. The candidate’s electrospinning training will have immediate impact on ongoing multidisciplinary research projects at his home institution and manufacturing interests within the state of Kentucky. Gained knowledge will be transferred to the local community: researchers will develop hands-on activities, create a new multidisciplinary course, and involve high school students in their research endeavors.The research goal is to fabricate a high throughput dielectrophoretic nanofiber-based particle sorter; this will be possible by developing a heterogeneous fibrous mat that contains both electrically conductive and insulative nanofibers. Both fibers are sources of significant field non-uniformities, greatly enhancing dielectrophoretic forces throughout the device and enabling an inexpensive platform capable of high throughput particle sorting whose selective trapping is AC frequency dependent. The principal investigator will be trained in advanced electrospinning such that the research team can fabricate and test these heterogeneous nanofiber networks. Experimental particle-sorting results will be compared to physics-based numerical simulations. The manufacturing method can be scaled up, enabling large-scale electrokinetic nanofiber applications beyond their typical use in microfluidic devices. The application of electrokinetics to low cost heterogeneous fibrous platforms is underexplored; discoveries in their manufacture and physical operational limits can advance the application of dielectrophoresis and electrohydrodynamics in purposefully-designed nanofiber mats. The investigator’s training in electrospinning will impact other research activities at his university, including advancements in personal protective equipment, energy efficient supercapacitors, cell scaffolds for cardiac remodeling, inexpensive neurostimulation, and in situ drug delivery.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.