2119237

RII Track-2 FEC: Advancing Manufacturing and Biotechnology through an On-Demand Sensor Platform: Investments in the Development of Engineering Principles and the Future Workforce

The proposed research represents a comprehensive advancement in biosensor design, biotechnology, and engineering. It aims to prepare Alabama (AL), Maine (ME), New Hampshire (NH), and Wyoming (WY) to take full advantage of the anticipated growth of biotechnology and advanced manufacturing industries. Currently, biomanufacturing industries face limitations due to a lack of effective tools for monitoring key proteins that provide real-time information on product quality. Existing protein sensors are either non-specific and require expensive equipment for spectroscopic measurements or rely on off-line, laboratory-based approaches.

To address the need for on-demand biosensors that can continuously monitor proteins in biomanufacturing processes, a geographically diverse team has been assembled from the University of New Hampshire, Auburn University, the University of New England, the University of Wyoming, and the University of Maine. This research will be coupled with a multi-tiered workforce development plan integrated throughout the project. The workforce development plan includes training for a new biotechnology workforce in AL, ME, NH, and WY. It encompasses various components targeting early-career faculty, postdoctoral scholars, graduate and undergraduate students, K-12 students, and the broader communities in the jurisdictions. All these components will be tied together through an annual academic-industry symposium.

The proposed research represents a comprehensive advancement in biosensor design, biotechnology, and engineering. It aims to prepare AL, ME, NH, and WY to take full advantage of the anticipated growth of biotechnology and advanced manufacturing industries. Currently, biomanufacturing industries face limitations due to a lack of effective tools for monitoring key proteins that provide real-time information on product quality.

The project will develop engineering principles to guide on-demand biosensor design towards Industry 4.0 applications. Four distinct yet collaborative research projects will produce a full assortment of sensor components to achieve continuous, in-line process monitoring, which is essential for economically viable quality-by-design biomanufacturing.

Project 1 focuses on the development and validation of computational methods to design protein recognition elements (REs) with targeted hotspot interactions. Project 2 will produce engineering principles for creating analyte-responsive polymers that amplify the signal of analyte binding to REs at process conditions. Project 3 will develop innovative scanning electrochemical cell microscopy techniques to reproducibly nanopattern surfaces, controlling sensor form factors and array construction. Finally, Project 4 will measure the electrochemical transduction of surface events of analyte-responsive polymers and test designed sensors for measuring IL-6 and insulin in-line and continuously.

Combined, the four projects will be integrated into a single sensor device capable of measuring changes in protein levels, specifically IL-6 and insulin, continuously and in real-time for industrial applications. This research represents a close collaboration with researchers from a geographically diverse team from the University of New Hampshire, Auburn University, the University of New England, the University of Wyoming, and the University of Maine. It will be coupled with a multi-tiered workforce development plan integrated throughout the project, including training for a new biotechnology workforce in AL, ME, NH, and WY.

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.

University System Of New Hampshire

THE GOAL OF THIS FUNDING OPPORTUNITY, "EPSCOR RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM: TRACK-2 FOCUSED EPSCOR COLLABORATIONS (RII TRACK-2 FEC)", IS IDENTIFIED IN THE LINK: HTTPS://WWW.NSF.GOV/PUBLICATIONS/PUB_SUMM.JSP?ODS_KEY=NSF21518

47.083 - Integrative Activities

NSF Office of Integrative Activities (OIA) [NSF]

Durham, New Hampshire 03824-3585 United States

Single Zip Code

21-518

Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 300% from $1,499,242 to $5,997,238.