Nanotechnology and Biosensors

Non-Technical Summary: <BR>Development of sensing and processing technologies based on nanoscale phenomena becomes increasingly relevant for our society as we continue to advance our knowledge of biological phenomena related to food, agriculture, environment and energy. According to the FY 2010-2015 Strategic Plan published by the USDA, one of the strategic goals for this period is to Ensure that all of America's children have access to safe, nutritious and balanced meals. Within this goal, Specific Objective 3 states that we must Protect public health by ensuring that food is safe. Reduction in the number of foodborne illnesses will require a comprehensive "farm-to-fork" risk assessment, coupled with appropriate technological measures to screen, identify, and eliminate offending food pathogens. In addition to safety concerns in processed foods, plant/animal pathogens also represent major threats to worldwide food security. Rapid responses to crops and livestock epidemics require fast and accurate evaluation of plant/animal pathogens, which also calls for advances in biosensor technology to provide more user-friendly tools and techniques. Members of the multistate committee have demonstrated leadership and world-class abilities to develop biosensing and processing technologies. Our collective expertise provides a strong foundation to address current issues pertinent to food safety and food security including, 1) Developing sensing and analytical devices and systems for detecting pathogens relevant to agricultural and food safety/security, 2) Developing innovative technologies to aid life-sciences researchers in probing biological phenomena relevant to mechanisms of pathogenicity and pathogen inactivation at the nano scale and 3) Inventing advanced packaging and processing techniques that increase safety and prolong shelf life of packaged and / or processed food products. The expected Outcomes or projected Impacts are: 1. Greater understanding of nanotechnology by the public and the agricultural and food industry. 2. Increased awareness and application of nanotechnology to agricultural, food and biological systems. 3. Increased number of students from land grant universities with training in the basic techniques of nanotechnology. 4. Development of tools and products which exploit the novel properties of nanomaterials and nanoscale devices and benefit different aspects of agriculture, food safety and biological engineering research. 5. Understanding of the fundamental nanoscale phenomena and processes in food and agricultural products as well as the processes that apply to these products. 6. Understanding of the potential of certain techniques and devices and what is needed to optimize and improve them within a theoretical context. 7. Development of nanoscale devices and systems that will advance the capabilities of currently designed devices for higher performance. 8. Development of a prototype bio-nanosensors including specifications for the design and synthesis of corresponding nanomaterials. 9. Development of nanoarrays for use in detecting and screening proteins from complicated expression systems. <P> Approach: <BR> OBJECTIVE 1. Develop new technologies for characterizing fundamental nanoscale processes To successfully and safely exploit nanotechnology it is essential first to have quantitative bases for observing, understanding, and predicting nanoscale phenomena. Specific needs include: a) characterization of nanofabrication methods; b) characterization of molecular and cellular interactions at the nanoscale; c) characterization of optical and other material properties of nanomaterials; d) new tools to manipulate cellular processes, and; e) study of the transport and fate of nanoparticles in the environment and in living tissues. OBJECTIVE 2. Construct and characterize self-assembled nanostructures We will investigate the development and characterization of the following classes of nanoparticle technologies: a) Nanoencapsulation; b) Self-assembled nano-structures; and c) Nanocomposites. OBJECTIVE 3: Develop biological interfaces and sensing systems incorporating microfabrication and nanotechnology include: a) Development of nano-transducers and bio-recognition systems; b) Device design that include, i) Fabrication of multi-array channels for simultaneous detection in one sample application using electrochemical and optical signal measurement. ii) Fabrication of deep devices in glass and plastic for cell transport and recovery as well as micro and nano-optical arrays for non-labeled sensing. iii) Development of nano and micro array patterned materials for fluorescent and luminescent based chemical and biological sensing of trace contaminants, toxins, and biological signaling molecules. iv) Development of a multi-component protein nanoarray (Also described in the previous objective). v) System design and protocol development. vi) Fabrication of devices incorporating field effect transistors for detection of molecular charge. vii) Fabrication of MEMS-based components to be integrated with nano-scale systems/devices and viii) Use of computational simulation and modeling techniques for rapid development and evaluation of MEMS/nano-scale devices. OBJECTIVE 4: Develop a framework for economic, environmental and health risk assessment for nanotechnologies applied to food, agriculture and biological systems The specific methods include: a) Development of technologies for interrogating the impact of nanotechnology on living organisms; b) Systematic studies of the environmental impact of industrially relevant nanotechnologies; c) Dissemination of gained knowledge through various professional societies and publications; d) Exploration into programs related to measuring the positive and negative impacts of nanotechnology on economic development. OBJECTIVE 5: Produce education and outreach materials on nanofabrication, sensing, systems integration and application risk assessment Several members of the committee have developed and regularly teach courses in the areas of biosensing and nanotechnology. We have leveraged the Web to share such course materials through ongoing educational projects such as the nanoHUB (www.nanohub.org), an online lecture, multimedia and software repository for educational and outreach information related to nanotechnology.