The Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) received a two-year, $200,000 Project Grant from the National Science Foundation Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems to develop nanoplasmonic mesh-based biosensors for in situ spatiotemporal monitoring of biofilm activities. The goal is to incorporate uniform nanoplasmonic hotspot arrays within microbial biofilms to enable real-time, spatially-resolved surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy biochemical characterization of system-level biofilm processes during development and after antibiotic treatment. As part of the NSF Directorate for Engineering's mission to foster innovation in engineering research and education under the Engineering (47.041) federal grant program, the university will conduct research to design biomimetic sensors and implement in situ molecular profiling and pH sensing of biofilms. Outreach activities coordinated through Virginia Tech centers will also engage the public and promote STEM diversity.
Generated 1/6/24, 2:13 PM