Integrated Transduction, Actuation, and Control for Cell-Based Sensing [UOM_FY05_059]

University Of Maryland, College Park, College Park MD

Investigators

Abstract

ABSTRACT IIS-0515873 Abshire, Pamela The goal is to develop and demonstrate enabling technology for cell-based sensing. Cell clinics are microenvironments that enable the capture and characterization of cells. Each "clinic" is a micro-electro-mechanical system fabricated on a CMOS chip. Biological systems have high specificity, sensitivity, and adaptability that can be part of a highly integrated sensor. The first goals are sample preparation, cell loading, and system miniaturization using the tools of feedback control, integrated circuits, and microfluidics. Results will leveraged into two ongoing efforts in olfactory sensing and low-false-positive pathogen detection. Three aspects of the system will be demonstrated. (1) Electroosmotic flow control will remove all optically visible (>5 micron) particles from the sample. This will remove dirt, dust, and bacteria and leave behind odorants for presentation to the olfactory cell sensors. This system shall be capable of sufficiently high throughput to be used in real time. (2) Dielectrophoretic actuation for steering cells in three-dimensions will be used to position cells in the plane and to direct them into the cell clinic vials. (3)In order to develop field utility cell-based sensors, a vision system with the same dimensions as cell clinics for cell steering will be developed. The proposed technological advances will allow cell-based sensing to move toward actual implementation and use with real samples. Cell-based sensing has the potential for selectivity, sensitivity, and speed that far exceed today's chemical and biological sensors. Problems of olfactory sensing and pathogen detection are of immediate relevance to national security. This technology has clear applications in other diverse fields such as health care, pharmaceutical development, and environmental monitoring. The integrated transduction-actuation-control approach is expected to have an impact outside of cell-based sensing to labs-on-a-chip, microfluidics, and nanotechnology by developing basic technology and techniques for sophisticated manipulation of particles at the micro-scale. The PIs are engineers in several disciplines (fluids and controls, micro-fabrication and conjugated polymers, integrated circuits and biosensors) working closely with cell biologists, molecular pathologists, and experts in bio-functionalized surfaces and quantum dots. The PIs are pioneering the development of MEMS education kits that can be used outside of a clean room.