Bioanalytical Microsystems and Biosensors Lab

1. Nano-Biosensors for Sensing, Monitoring and Control in Agriculture and Food Systems Antje J. Baeumner Dept. of Biological and Environmental Engineering Cornell University Bioanalytical Microsystems and Biosensors Lab November 18th – 19th, 2002

2. Contents of Presentation Background and rationale Identify specific objectives of a national research program Identify potential outcomes and impacts of the research Estimate research budget

3. Background and Rationale WHAT? Biosensor Definition: Analytical device Biorecognition element Physicochemical transducer Bioanalytical Microstructured housing Microsystems Microstructured transducer Micro/Nanostructured interface to bio-element Integration with sample preparation steps Application areas Environment Food safety Food processing Biosafety and biosecurity

4. Background and Rationale WHY? Standard Procedures Microbiological culture procedures Microscopy Biochemical assays Immunoassays PCR Disadvantages Time consuming and/or non-specific and/or cost-intensive and/or non-portable and/or trained personnel Micro/NanobiosensorFast inexpensive simple to use portable multi-analyte, high throughput Biosensors Fast inexpensive simple to use portable multi-analyte, high throughput

5. Background and Rationale Example Detection and quantification of DNA or RNA Standard Procedure (Southern, Northern Blot) Detection limit fmol Analysis time 48 hours Lab procedure Simple, optical biosensors based on capillary action in a membrane strip Detection limit fmol Analysis time 15 min Portable procedure

6. Background and Rationale Example Detection and quantification of DNA or RNA Standard Procedure (Southern, Northern Blot) Detection limit fmol Analysis time 48 hours Lab procedure 50 mm 50 mm Sophisticated Microfluidic Biosensor Detection limit amol Analysis time 10 min Portable procedure

7. Background and Rationale WHY? Nanobiosensors Novel materials Novel characteristics Novel functionality Biomimetic structures Data transmission Result Better sensitivity Higher specificity New specificity Higher reliability Faster results More complex data interpretation feasible New application areas implanted sensors sensor dust continuous monitoring remote location

8. Background and Rationale Challenges Integration Connection to macroworld (read-out, handling) Analysis of appreciable volumes (mL – 100L) Required Understanding of fundamentals of biorecognition signal transduction Integration with current macro-technologies

9. Objectives of a National Research Program “The essence of nanotechnology is the ability to work at the atomic, molecular and macromolecular levels in order to create materials, devices and systems with fundamentally new properties and functions.” (NNI) USDA Focus Areas of Interest for Nanobiosensors Food Systems (Agriculture and Bioprocessing) Food Safety Natural Resources & Environment

10. Objectives of a National Research ProgramExample: Food Safety National Integrated Food Safety Initiative Priorities: Qualitative and Quantitative Risk Assessment Control Measures for Food-borne Microbial Pathogens Sources and Incidence of Microbial Pathogens Antibiotic Resistant Microbial Pathogens Improving the Safety of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables National Coordination of Integrated Food Safety Programs and Resources Food Handler Education and Training for Consumers and Youth Food Handler Education for High-risk and Hard-to-reach Audiences Food Handler Education for Commercial and Non-commercial Audiences HACCP Model Development, Testing and Implementation Home Food Processing and Preservation Integrating Food Safety into Related Agricultural Programs

11. Objectives of a National Research ProgramExample: Food Safety Nanobiosensors in Food Safety (pathogen analysis) Goal: Approach: Specific, sensitive analysis of food for all potential pathogens Rapid (minutes), inexpensive, simple, quantitative Continuous and discrete Fundamentals of pathogen presence in food (NRI) Novel nanomaterials adaptable to food analysis (limited sample preparation) etc. Novel detection mechanisms based on the nanoscale (fundamental studies) Novel integration mechanisms of transducer and bio-element Novel integration mechanisms of transducer and bio-element Integration of NEMS remote receive/transmit systems embedded on the chip

12. Objectives of a National Research ProgramExample: Novel integration mechanisms Research under investigation at the Nanobiotechnology Center, Cornell University PI: Barbara Baird, Stephen Sass, Ulrich Wiesner Goal: Improve the binding yield and efficiency of antibodies to their analyte in a competitive biosensor assay for bacterial toxins Approach: Patterning surfaces to perfectly match the molecular binding pattern of antibodies

13. Outcome and Impact of Research USDA Focus Areas: Food Systems (Agriculture and Bioprocessing) Food Safety Natural Resources & Environment Continuous monitoring of food safety at critical control points in food processing Rapid quality control at critical control points in food processing Biosensor application in agricultural settings (e.g. in automated milking systems soil/pesticide analysis manure analysis) Biosensor application in agricultural settings (e.g. in automated milking system soil/pesticide analysis manure analysis) Sensor integration with storage systems, implanted in cattle etc. for monitoring

14. Outcome and Impact of ResearchExample: Nanobiosensors and Milking Approach: Location of an array of nanobiosensors directly at the inlet of the milking machine to monitor for the presence of bacteria in the milk of each cow Outcome and Impact: Direct quality control of milk Avoiding the spoilage of large quantities of milk Requirements: Rapid detection (seconds) No sample pretreatment (since in-line detection) Continuous monitoring Remote sensing capability Obstacles: Not possible with current technology (array seconds no pretreatment)

15. Estimate of Research Budget 1. Novel nanomaterials adaptable to food analysis (limited sample preparation) 2. Novel detection mechanisms based on the nanoscale (fundamental studies) 3. Novel integration mechanisms of transducer and bio-element 4. Integration of NEMS remote receive/transmit systems embedded on the chip 5. etc. Suggested 5 topic areas for Nanobiosensors: 3 Projects per year in each area $200,000 per year per project Annual budget for nanobiosensor research from the USDA is proposed at $3 million

16. Thank You