| NSF Org: |
TI Translational Impacts |
| Recipient: |
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| Initial Amendment Date: | March 31, 2021 |
| Latest Amendment Date: | March 31, 2021 |
| Award Number: | 2052113 |
| Award Instrument: | Standard Grant |
| Program Manager: |
Ela Mirowski
emirowsk@nsf.gov (703)292-2936 TI Translational Impacts TIP Directorate for Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships |
| Start Date: | April 1, 2021 |
| End Date: | November 30, 2021 (Estimated) |
| Total Intended Award Amount: | $256,000.00 |
| Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $256,000.00 |
| Funds Obligated to Date: |
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| History of Investigator: |
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| Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
450 JOHN C WATTS DR NICHOLASVILLE KY US 40356-2162 (859)559-8735 |
| Sponsor Congressional District: |
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| Primary Place of Performance: |
450 John C, Watts Drive Nicholasville KY US 40356-2162 |
| 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): | SBIR Phase I |
| 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): | 47.084 |
ABSTRACT
The broader impact/ commercial potential of this SBIR Phase I project is the creation of a new set of tools for bioscience applications. The innovation has shown promise in benchtop tests to fill a capability gap in manufacturing, and the project will build upon this promise to create 3-dimensional nanoscale fluid pathways. The first target application is to enable widespread use of nanometer-sized particles (30-150 nm) to carry cell signaling information throughout the body. Particles designed to signal a particular cellular response are a major component of drug therapeutics as their size allows them to access parts of the body otherwise impossible to reach, such as the blood-brain barrier in the event of a stroke and tumor penetration for cancer patients. Problematic for these research endeavors is the differentiating these particles from others due to similarity in size (100-300 nm). The innovation could enable these nanoscale entities to traverse nanoscale pathways, resulting in size and physics-based exclusion from other particles. Success in this project aids in promoting the advancement of detection and treatment for global health issues, adding to the general welfare of society, as well as creating a new sector in U.S. bioeconomy.
Phase I assesses the feasibility of a potentially disruptive new manufacturing process to create a solid form structure with 3-dimensional pathways, such as helices and sine waves, of circular cross section interior channels for use in micro/nano-fluidics products. The innovation uses the physics of fluid flow to dynamically mold a fluid against a smart fluid, during which process the diameter of the channel being formed can be changed by adjusting the process variables in real-time. The work progresses the knowledge associated with advancing manufacturing capabilities and enables a wide variety of fields based on the products made using the method. For the former, the technology provides a new way to rapidly create fluidic pathways for nano to micro structures, enhancing the understanding of fluidic behaviors, polymerization, smart fluid applications, and creates a new field of study for the dynamic behavior of fluid/fluid molding. The technical goals of the Phase I work use a combination of fluidic modeling and the set-up and execution of a series of experimental tests to demonstrate active control of the channel diameter for 50-500 nm, 3-dimensional structures with controlled diameter channels, and merging and diverging channels.
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.
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.
SBIR Phase I: Feasibility of Dynamic Liquid Configurable Molding sought to demonstrate the feasibility of a novel manufacturing method for the creation of three-dimensional micro- and nanofluidic pathways. The manufacturing method proved highly feasible and versatile. The pathways created during Phase I have circular cross-sections, can intersect and diverge, and can be configured in true three-dimensions. This manufacturing technique opens the door for the use of gravitational, lateral, and inertial forces acting upon flow at very small size scales. The results showed that the manufacturing process occurs at speeds comparable to injection molding, although the post-processing steps, including the addition of connectors, are not yet optimized and take longer. The process showed channel cross-sections as small as 200 nm, which was the limit of the optical detection capabilities at Hummingbird Nano, Inc. (HBN), and as large as 3 millimeters. The length of the channels is not limited for diameters of 3 microns and above, creating very high aspect ratios. The new manufacturing method has the potential to impact a wide variety of fields, including, but not limited to, significant advances in precision fluid dispensing, vascular models, precision detection, isolation of nanosized particles etc. Hummingbird Nano, Inc., is initially focused on supplying new laboratory tooling for advancing the life sciences.
Last Modified: 12/30/2021
Modified by: Eleanor Derbyshire
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