| NSF Org: |
CBET Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems |
| Recipient: |
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| Initial Amendment Date: | August 2, 2011 |
| Latest Amendment Date: | August 2, 2011 |
| Award Number: | 1067583 |
| Award Instrument: | Standard Grant |
| Program Manager: |
Rajakkannu Mutharasan
CBET Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems ENG Directorate for Engineering |
| Start Date: | August 15, 2011 |
| End Date: | July 31, 2015 (Estimated) |
| Total Intended Award Amount: | $370,001.00 |
| Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $370,001.00 |
| Funds Obligated to Date: |
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| History of Investigator: |
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| Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
202 HIMES HALL BATON ROUGE LA US 70803-0001 (225)578-2760 |
| Sponsor Congressional District: |
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| Primary Place of Performance: |
202 HIMES HALL BATON ROUGE LA US 70803-0001 |
| Primary Place of
Performance Congressional District: |
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| Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): |
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| Parent UEI: |
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| NSF Program(s): | BIOSENS-Biosensing |
| Primary Program Source: |
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| Program Reference Code(s): |
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| Program Element Code(s): |
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| Award Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Fund Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Assistance Listing Number(s): | 47.041 |
ABSTRACT
1067583
Park
The ability to acquire quantitative information on molecular inputs in near real time offers many exciting new opportunities in diverse applications such as basic biology, medicine, forensics, and homeland security. Nanochannel-based technologies have demonstrated potential as a technology in the analysis of biopolymers, but their use is still in its infancy and replete with research challenges. The goal of this proposed work is to develop an innovative nanofluidic biosensor utilizing time-of-flight (ToF)-based transduction of single molecules in a 2D nanochannel for accelerating the acquisition rate of chemical/biochemical information to near real time irrespective of the targets being analyzed. In order to fulfill the promise of this exciting field, multidisciplinary research efforts, aimed at both the engineering and scientific challenges, are imperative. The main scientific innovation is the employment of a new sensing mechanism, namely ToF transduction to identify different molecules (we will use peptides as example targets in this application) the size of which is comparable to the dimensions of the nanochannels. During translocation of a peptide through the nanochannel, its mobility is determined by the ionic state of the molecule as well as the interactions between the molecule and walls of the nanochannel. The ToF for the translocation will provide a signature uniquely specific to the molecule being monitored. The engineering innovation includes low-cost fabrication of multi-scale fluidic platforms consisting of micro- to macroscale fluidic networks and sub-50 nm nanochannels in polymer substrates via direct molding. Use of polymer substrates is predicated by their ability to be produced using replication technologies as well as the availability of polymers with a broad range of surface chemistries, which enables optimization of biomolecule/nanochannel wall interactions to facilitate ToF identification. Using the developed technologies emanating from this application, further innovative discovery efforts will be generated for a broader user community due to the systems? low-cost and simple operation with the ultimate goal being application of these novel biosensors for the real time identification of single monomers to elucidate the primary structure of biopolymers, such as nucleic acids and proteins.
Intellectual Merit: The proposed research will integrate critical studies in fabrication, assembly, biophysical characterization and simulations, to formulate a detailed understanding of the translocation behavior of peptides through nanochannels. Through fundamental studies of the physics of the confined translocation of single peptides, controlling parameters that maximize the discrimination between individual peptides will be identified. Low cost fabrication, enabled by the use of polymers, will be achieved by the use of parallel processes such as nanoimprint lithography in the fabrication of an array of nanochannel sensing platforms over a large area. Completion of the proposed work will demonstrate the feasibility of this ToF-based sensing mechanism and lay the groundwork for the development of low cost fabrication strategies for the nanochannel sensing platforms for broader applications.
Broader Impacts: Education and outreach activities will exploit the revolutionary and multidisciplinary nature of the emerging field of nanochannel-based biosensors to engage K-12, teachers and undergraduate students in science,technology, engineering, and mathematics. To this end, the following activities will be pursued: (1) develop experimental nanotechnology teaching modules; (2) give seminars for secondary education students; (3) initiate undergraduate and graduate students in research; and (4) recruit undergraduate and graduate students from underrepresented groups. These activities will take advantage of the education and outreach infrastructure already in place at LSU and its Center for BioModular Multi-Scale Systems. This infrastructure includes several nationally recognized programs devoted to under-represented students.
PUBLICATIONS PRODUCED AS A RESULT OF THIS RESEARCH
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PROJECT OUTCOMES REPORT
Disclaimer
This Project Outcomes Report for the General Public is displayed verbatim as submitted by the Principal Investigator (PI) for this award. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this Report are those of the PI and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation; NSF has not approved or endorsed its content.
The goal of this proposed work was to develop an innovative nanofluidic biosensor utilizing time-of-flight (ToF)-based transduction of single molecules in a 2D nanochannel. The project consisted of three objectives. The first objective was to develop low cost and high throughput fabrication processes and tools for the sensor structures in polymers utilizing nanoimprint lithography (NIL) as the low cost fabrication protocol. In this objective, we have successfully demonstrated fabrication of the nanofluidic biosensor structures down to sub-10 nm structures. We developed a protocol of utilizing resin stamps for NIL as a means of reducing the adhesion problem associated with nanoscale molding and demolding. The second objective was to apply the nanochannel sensor platforms as molecular analysis tools for examining the feasibility of identifying single biomolecules. We successfully applied simultaneous measurements of optical and electrical signals during the translocation events of DNA molecules through the nanochannel flight tube to study the translocation dynamics of the molecules. Also, we demonstrated the separation of the AgNPs using PMMA-based nanoslit columns with a 10-fold improvement with the experimental protocols that we developed. Further improvements in the electrokinetic separation could be realized by using higher electric field strengths and smaller sized column cross-sectional areas to further reduce deleterious effects produced by stick/slip motion and/or longitudinal diffusion. In the third objective, we explored the physics and understanding of the translocation of single molecules through nanochannels using all-atomistic non-equilibrium molecular dynamics (NEMD) simulations. Also, through the finite element simulation of transient currents in the translocation of single molecules/particles through the nanochannel flight tube, we proposed a new design for the ToF measurement for the single molecular translocation through the nanochannel flight tube.
This project led to 8 peer reviewed journal published, 2 submitted and 2 more under preparation. In addition, the results emanated from this project were presented in more than 20 national/international conferences and invited talks in universities. The PIs have developed hands-on experimental modules related to this project to disseminate the project work to general public and over the four years of the project period the developed experimental modules were presented in more than 30 K-12 schools by the undergraduate students who took the classes taught by the PIs.
Last Modified: 02/17/2016
Modified by: Sunggook Park
