Novel bioinspired plasmonic nanocomposites platform for global health and global development applications

该提案的目标是建立一个新的廉价纳米生物复合材料的研究计划，可用于全球意义的应用，并解决全球关注的问题。纳米复合材料由于其极高的表面积与体积比而提供独特的电学、光学、热学和机械性能。它们已经找到了许多技术应用，并可能在未来改变我们的生活。我们建议开发具有独特和可调特性的独特纳米生物复合材料，这些特性将得到广泛的应用。这些结构的制造容易扩展，并且将产生廉价的材料。具体方向是：（i）开发和表征新型等离子体纳米生物复合材料结构，（ii）评估通过这些结构的流体毛细管流动，用于侧流分析，（iii）探索全球健康问题的潜在应用，（iv）探索其在全球发展问题中的潜在应用。这些纳米复合材料是由双原子硅藻壳（或硅藻壳）、石墨烯和等离子体粒子制成的廉价且灵活的构造，并且以各种方式制造以满足用于诊断的分子检测、用于表征的粒子分离、抗菌应用和朝向清洁能源的改进的氢生产领域中的特定需求。* 具体目标 *1。在胶带上制造和表征廉价且柔性的等离子体纳米复合材料结构。几种制造方法和沉积的纳米复合材料在磁带上将探索和优化的应用目标分子检测。在这个目标中，我们还将通过Sers对这些纳米复合材料进行初步测量，并评估它们对特定目标分子的分析能力，这些目标分子从毒素等小分子到蛋白质和DNA。还将进行电气特性的COMSOL模拟。*2。评估通过纳米复合材料的流体流动，并将其用于侧向流动应用，例如用于分离分子组分以进行检测和表征。将这些构建体与基于纸的更传统的侧流测定进行灵敏度和多重能力的比较。*3。通过检测和表征疾病的生物标志物，如结核病标志物和细胞外囊泡，制造和评估这些纳米复合材料在健康应用中的用途。*4。制造和使用等离子体纳米复合材料，目标是几个全球发展应用，如水净化，抗菌应用和清洁能源。

The goal of this proposal is to establish a research program in novel inexpensive nanobiocomposite materials that can be used in applications of global significance and address problems of global concern. Nanocomposite materials offer unique electrical, optical, thermal, and mechanical properties due to their exceptionally high surface-to-volume ratio. They have already found numerous technological applications and will likely transform our lives in the future. We propose to develop unique nanobiocomposites with unique and tunable properties that will find a wide range of applications. The fabrication of these structures is easily scalable and will yield inexpensive materials. The specific directions are to: (i) develop and characterize novel plasmonic, nanobiocomposite structures, (ii) evaluate the capillary flow of fluid through these structures for use in lateral flow assays, and (iii) explore potential applications to global health problems, and (iv) explore their potential applications in global development problems. These nanocomposites are inexpensive and flexible constructs made out of diatomic frustules (or diatomite), graphene, and plasmonic particles, and are fabricated in a variety of ways to fulfill the specific needs in the areas of molecular detection for diagnosis, particle separation for characterization, antibacterial applications, and improved hydrogen production towards clean energy. ***Specific aims***1. Fabrication and characterization of inexpensive and flexible plasmonic nanocomposite structures on tape. Several fabrication methods and deposition of nanocomposites on a tape will be explored and optimized for applications targeting molecular detection. In this aim we will also perform preliminary measurements of these nanocomposites via SERS and evaluate their analytical capabilities on specific target molecules of interest ranging from small molecules such as toxins to proteins and DNA. COMSOL simulations of the electrical properties will also be performed. ***2. Evaluate the flow of fluid through the nanocomposite and use it in lateral flow applications such as for the separation of molecular components for their detection and characterization. These constructs will be compared with more traditional lateral flow assays based on paper for sensitivity and multiplexing capability. ***3. Fabricate and evaluate the use of these nanocomposites for health applications via detection and characterization of biomarkers of disease such as tuberculosis markers and extracellular vesicles. ***4. Fabricate and use plasmonic nanocomposites targeted for several global development applications such as water purification, antimicrobial applications, and clean energy.