Design, Fabrication, and Surface Modification of Multifunctional Nanocomposites Used for Advanced Biosensing Devices

这一拟议的NSERC DG计划的长期目标是开发具有成本效益、低能耗、用户友好的传感阵列，以克服医疗保健和环境方面的挑战，提供准确和及时的信息。多功能纳米复合材料在制造小型化、多功能器件方面表现出了强大的能力。为了充分发挥纳米材料和纳米技术在未来生物传感产业中的潜力，张博士将不断开发新型多功能纳米复合材料，用于先进的生物传感设备。建议的NSERC DG计划的具体目标是：(1)合成多功能纳米复合材料并进行表面修饰，以优化纳米结构和生物受体之间的界面；(2)以非侵入性的方式开发新型发光能量转移共振(LRET)生物传感器；(3)利用二维纳米结构设计和开发高效的电子生物传感器系统，用于远程采集健康/环境信息。我们之前的研究表明，通过将化学过程和激光辅助过程相结合，可以使用生物分子(例如抗体)来修饰定义明确的纳米结构，这是一种无催化剂的过程。在拟议的活动中，我们将继续整合化学溶液工艺和激光辅助工艺，以生产多功能纳米复合材料。此外，还将利用新兴的上转换纳米材料开发新的LRET生物传感器系统，用于深部组织的检测，具有光子损伤少或无光子损伤和低毒的特点。人们还注意到，具有先进的光、磁、电、机械性能的生物相容的碳基纳米复合材料在医疗点(POC)设备领域显示出良好的潜力。张博士发明了一种基于石墨烯的混合式磁阻(MR)传感器，由于MR传感器能够将生物反应的变化快速转换为电子信号，因此可以与无线系统无缝集成。在未来5年，我们将量身定制碳基二维纳米复合材料的精细结构，实现实时和远程检测。此外，拟议的研究计划将为学生和年轻研究人员提供一个高度多学科的平台，以获得先进和微型生物传感器系统的纳米制造、设计和开发方面的经验，以快速检测细胞、体液或生态系统中发生的生物过程。多样性和提高性别质量是招募受训人员的优先事项。拟议的NSERC DG计划将有效地将新知识和技术转移到工业中，并为加拿大工业的高科技部门和新兴传感技术的开发提供可用的人力资源池，这将使该国成为全球市场上的主要竞争对手。

The long-term goal of this proposed NSERC DG program is to develop cost-effective, low-energy required, user-friendly sensing arrays for overcoming the challenges of healthcare and the environment to provide accurate and timely information. Multifunctional nanocomposites have shown powerful capabilities in producing miniaturized and multifunctional devices. To reach the full potential of nanomaterials and nanotechnology in the future biosensing industry, Dr. Zhang will continuously develop new multifunctional nanocomposites for advanced biosensing devices. The specific objectives of this proposed NSERC DG program are to (1) synthesize and surface modification of multifunctional nanocomposites to optimize the interface between nanostructures and bioreceptors; (2) to develop new luminescent energy transfer resonance (LRET) biosensors with a non-invasive manner; (3) to design and develop efficient electronic biosensor systems by using two-dimensional nanostructures for remotely harvesting health/environment information.      Our previous research demonstrated that well-defined nanostructures can be modified with biomolecules, e.g. antibody, by combining chemical process and a laser-assisted process, a catalyst-free process. In the proposed activities, we will continuously integrate both the chemical solution process and the laser-assisted process to produce multifunctional nanocomposites. In addition, new LRET biosensor system by using emerging upconversion nanomaterials will be developed which can be used in deep-tissue detection with less or without photon-damage and low toxicity. It is also noted that biocompatible carbon-based nanocomposites with advanced optical, magnetic, electrical, mechanical properties as one-entity have been shown promising potential in the field of point-of-care (POC) devices. Dr. Zhang invented a hybrid graphene-based magnetoresistance (MR) sensor that can be seamlessly integrated with the wireless system due to the capability of MR sensor for quickly converting the change of bioreactions to electronic signals. In the next 5 years, we will tailor the fine structure of carbon-based two-dimensional nanocomposites to achieve real-time and remote detection.      The proposed research program will provide a highly multidisciplinary platform for students and young researchers to gain experiences in nanofabrication, design, and development of advanced and miniaturized biosensor systems to quickly detect the bioprocesses occurring in the cell, or body fluids, or ecosystem. Diversity and increased gender quality are the priority in recruiting the trainees. The proposed NSERC DG program will efficiently transfer new knowledge and technology to industry, and to provide a pool of human resources available for the high-tech sector of the Canadian industry and for the development of emerging sensing technology, which position the country as a major competitor on the global market.