Deep sea microfluidic sensors

与许多水生环境一样，由于目前的数据收集方法，海洋目前在空间（3D）和时间（+1D）上采样不足。如果我们要观察、描述和干预海洋中的重要问题，目前向海上派遣载人任务的做法将无法很好地扩大规模。无人驾驶水上车辆或海上无人机提供了在4D中进行远程采样和表征的能力，用于a)快速响应和b)大规模持久网络。然而，为这些海上交通工具配备生物地球化学传感能力是具有挑战性的，因为市面上可用的传感器有：1)太大，2)太贵，3)太耗能。要从全球观测网络提供海洋化学和微生物学数据，需要逐步改变传感方法。在本提案中，将探索利用微流体系统和芯片实验室（LOC）设备来改变目前获取海洋生物地球化学观测的做法。价格低廉、用途广泛的LOC传感器将使我们能够快速、有效、准确地监测各种部署场景和一系列地点的海洋生物地球化学。这些微加工系统结合了广泛的技术，通常集成光学，流量控制和电子。微流控平台自然有利于降低试剂和功耗，以及减小物理尺寸。然而，大多数微流体系统是为标准压力和温度范围设计的。很少有芯片实验室系统被设计用于深海部署。该研究计划的重点将放在创建关键的微制造组件上，以允许深海部署LOC设备。这些水平装置将允许进行几种生物地球化学测量，并将解锁一种可扩展的海洋内部远程监测策略。具体成果将包括：1)用于监测对沿海海洋和气候产生重大影响的人为活动的营养分析仪；2)用于早期检测有害藻类物种以保护水产养殖投资和生计的海洋微生物传感器；3)用于海底能源生产和运输基础设施腐蚀监测的在线传感器。开发的微传感器将与自动水上交通工具（如Argo浮标和类似的分布式网络）集成，提供海洋化学和微生物学的远程反馈。创新的原位传感器将使我们能够保护人类健康，提高我们对海洋微生物/化学过程的认识，并在环境问题有害和修复成本高昂之前意识到这些问题。

The ocean, like many aquatic environments, is presently under-sampled both spatially (3D) and temporally (+1D) due to current approaches to data gathering. The current practice of sending manned missions to sea will not scale very well if we are to observe, characterize and intervene on important problems in the ocean. Unmanned water vehicles, or marine drones, offer the ability to perform remote sampling and characterization in 4D for both a) rapid response and b) large-scale persistent networks. However, equipping these marine vehicles with biogeochemical sensing capabilities is challenging since commercially available sensors are: 1) too large, 2) too expensive and 3) too energy demanding. A step-change in sensing approach is required to provide ocean chemistry and microbiology data from global observation networks. In this proposal, the utilization of microfluidic systems and lab-on-a-chip (LOC) devices will be explored for transforming current practices in acquiring ocean biogeochemical observations. Inexpensive and versatile LOC sensors will allow us to quickly, effectively, and accurately monitor ocean biogeochemistry over a wide range of deployment scenarios and across an array of locations. These microfabricated systems combine a wide-range of technologies and often integrate optics, flow control, and electronics. Microfluidic platforms naturally lend themselves toward lower reagent and power consumption, as well as reduced physical size. However, most microfluidic systems are designed for standard pressure and temperature ranges. Very few lab-on-chip systems have been designed with the intention of deployment in the deep ocean. The focus of this research program will be on creating the key microfabricated components to permit deep-ocean deployment of LOC devices. These horizontal enablers will permit several biogeochemical measurements and will unlock a scalable strategy for remote monitoring of the ocean interior. Specific outcomes will include: 1) nutrient analyzers for monitoring anthropogenic activities that have had drastic effects on the coastal ocean and climate, 2) marine microbe sensors for early-detection of harmful algal species to safeguard aquaculture investments and livelihoods, and 3) online sensors for corrosion monitoring of subsea energy production and transportation infrastructure. The developed microsensors will be integrated with autonomous water vehicles, like Argo floats and similar distributed networks, providing remote feedback on ocean chemistry and microbiology. Innovative in-situ sensors will enable us to safeguard human health, advance our knowledge of marine microbial/chemical processes, and be made aware of environmental issues before they are harmful and costly to remediate.