Progress 02/01/24 to 01/31/25
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience has been the scientific community. We have been reaching the scientific communitythrough individual meetings, seminars, conference presentations, and publications. This research investigates the potential of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) as a versatile platform for sensing applications. CNCs are crystalline nano-scale materials commonly extracted from naturally abundant materials such as wood, cotton, soy, and other cellulosic sources. Long-term, we are particularly interested in the multiplexed detection of analytes, including but limited to emerging water contaminants, food allergens, and antibiotic residues. This would have a significant impact on the general population in terms of accessible clean water as well as food safety and security. It would also provide a value-added application for agricultural and forest product waste. Changes/Problems:In the middle of the last reporting period, it was discovered that the surface area of the sensors was not large enough to provide sufficient detection sensitivity. Also,the small size also complicated handlingthe devices. This motivated optimizing the device design and adjusting the fabrication and testing protocols accordingly. The project is on track to complete testing of the new devices in the next reporting period. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?This project had provided significant opportunities for training and development. Student researchers have gained skills in lignocellulosic chemistry, characterization, and functionalization. They have also gained skills in molecularly imprinted polymers, microdevice fabrication, and sensing of allergens and environmental contaminants.One doctoral student supported by this projectis now a faculty member at Texas Tech University. Two other doctoral students who were supported by this project leveraged the microfabrication skills they gained to secure positions at Intel. Two undergraduate researchers who participated in this research are now in graduate school. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results have been communicated through conference presentations and publications as well as twoPhD dissertations (Diego Gomez-Maldonando and Sadat Kamal Amit). In the last reporting period, the results were communicated at the Gordon Research Conference on Nanoscale Science and Engineering for Agriculture and Food Systems. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The next reporting period will be used to 1) gather additional insights on using CNC microdevices as mass-based sensors, 2) publish findings, and 3) close out the grant. This includes optimizing the fabrication of the new cantilever designs and testing their sensing capability.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The last reporting period primarily focused on producing microelectromechanical cantilever beams from CNC-APTES films. Key accomplishments include establishing a protocol for measuring the CNC-APTES cantilever beams resonance frequencies consistently.This achievement wasfollowed by efforts to optimizebeam designto provide more surface area for sensing and enable easier handling. In parallel, research was conducted on applying the Spycatcher chemistry to CNC with the aim of better orienting antibodies on CNC to enable antibody-antigen detection. In addition, the incorporation of additives into CNC films to reduce cracking and curling tendency was investigated.
Publications
- Type:
Peer Reviewed Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
Amit, S. K., et al. (2024). "Properties of APTES-Modified CNC Films." ACS Omega 9(14): 16572-16580.
- Type:
Peer Reviewed Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
Gomez-Maldonado, D., et al. (2024). "Rapid production of Plasmodium sporozoite detection paper dipstick assays using cellulose nanocrystals: Proof-of-concept for bio-based, locally developed, point-of-care devices." Nano Select 5(1): 2300093.
Abstract Enhanced and rapid surveillance for diseases is critical to public health and meeting United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal for Good Health and Well-being by allowing for targeted and accelerated prevention and control response strategies. Human malaria, caused by Plasmodium spp. and transmitted by mosquitoes is no exception. Advances in sustainable materials provide an opportunity to improve fast, sustainable, and equitable testing assays. Here, naturally abundant polymers and biomaterials, such as cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and chitosan, were used to increase antibody density deposition on the assay detection line when compared to traditional free antibody deposition, and thus the sensitivity, of easily assembled rapid tests designed to detect Plasmodium vivax infective (sporozoite) parasites in mosquitoes, a critical indicator of malaria transmission. The immobilization of antibodies onto chitosan-coated CNCs allowed for antigen detection with a lower number of antibodies used in each test; likewise, the immobilization allowed to directly place the CNC-Ab without the traditionally needed blockers layer on the paper like bovine serum albumin (BSA). This bio-based prototype of a paper-based dipstick assay shows a promising pathway for the development of rapid disease surveillance tools using sustainable and globally available materials.
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Awaiting Publication
Year Published:
2025
Citation:
Sadat Kamal Amit, Structure - Processing - Property Relationships of Cellulose Nanocrystals for Optical and Sensing Applications, Department of Chemical Engineering Auburn University, 2024
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
Virginia A. Davis, Maria Soledad Peresin, Sdat Kamal Amit, 2020-04087 Cellulose Nanocrystals: A Versatile Platform for the Detection of Allergens and Emerging Contaminants; Gordon Research Conference on Nanoscale Science and Engineering for Agriculture and Food Systems, Southern New Hampshire University, June 2024
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Progress 02/01/23 to 01/31/24
Outputs
Target Audience:For this year's effort, the target audience was the scientific community; they were reached through individual meetings, seminars, conference presentations, and publications. This research investigates the potential of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) as a versatile platform for sensing applications. CNCs are crystalline nano-scale materials commonly extracted from naturally abundant materials such as wood, cotton, soy, and other cellulosic sources. Long-term, we are particularly interested in the multiplexed detection of analytes, including but limited to emerging water contaminants, food allergens, and antibiotic residues. This would have a significant impact on the general population in terms of accessible clean water as well as food safety and security. It would also provide a value-added application for agricultural and forest product waste. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project has continued to provide undergraduate and graduate students with interdisciplinary training. This has included lignocellulosic chemistry, polymer science, materials characterization, film processing, mechanical testing, and multiple sensing methods such as quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR). In addition, students have learned about the methods used in traditional electronic device fabrication and how they can be adapted for use with a more sustainable material, cellulose nanocrystals. The faculty and their advisees who were not directly involved in the research also expanded their understanding as a result of this interdisciplinary research. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results have been disseminated through on-campus research forums, grantee conferences, and national meetings. In addition, one research article has been published, and another is in press. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?During the next period, we plan to compile the unpublished sensing data and prepare additional publications. In addition, we will seek to understand and overcome recently discoveredchallenges in using cellulose nanocrystal cantilevers as mass-based sensors for the detection of analytes.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Work on understanding how APTES functionalization of sulfated CNCs affects the properties of shear cast films was completed and submitted for publication. Notably, APTES modification was found to increase sulfated CNC films' hydrolytic stability from minutes to days. Moreover, APTES films largely retained their mechanical properties after being soaked in water and dried. Additional work was performed on the adsoprtion of analytes directly onto CNC-APTES films as well as CNC-APTES films coated with a molecularly imprinted polymer. APTES modification of CNC enabled nonspecific sensing of carbofuran, andadding a coating of a molecularly printed polymer enabled specificity.Much of the emphasis in the last year has been on developing a CNC-APTES MEMS Device fabrication protocol for the production of cantilever beams. Multiple devices have been successfully produced. The next challenge is to understand their capability and limitations for use as mass-based sensors.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Amit, S. K.; Gomez-Maldonado, D.; Bish, T.; Peresin, M. S.; Davis, V. A. APTES-Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Modified Cellulose Nanocrystals for Carbofuran Detection. In AICHE Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL, 2023.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Peresin, M. S.; Amit, S. K.; Gomez-Maldonado, D.; Davis, V. A. Cellulose Nanocrystals: A Versatile Platform for the Detection of Allergens and Emerging Contaminants. In USDA Grantees Meeting, Knoxville, TN, 2023.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2023
Citation:
Gomez-Maldonado, D.; Au, G.; Zohdy, S.; Davis, V.; Peresin, M. Rapid production of Plasmodium sporozoite detection paper dipstick assays using cellulose nanocrystals: Proof-of-concept for bio-based, locally developed, point-of-care devices. Nano Select 2023, 5, 1-7. DOI: 10.1002/nano.202300093.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
Amit, S. A.; Bish, T. Gomez-Maldonado D., M. S. Peresin, V. A. Davis Hydrolytic Stability and Mechanical Properties of APTES Modified CNC Films, ACS Omega
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Progress 02/01/22 to 01/31/23
Outputs
Target Audience:During the reporting period, the target audience reached included other researchers working with lignocellulosic nanomaterials and agricultural applications of nanotechnology. Some companies participating in this field were also reached through conference presentations.In addition, three undergraduate researchers received training about lignocellulosic nanomaterials use in sensors as part of an NSF REU program. Changes/Problems:As described in last year's report, the originally envisioned detection scheme adapted from our prior research was not effective for the small molecule analytes that are the focus of this research. Alternate chemical schemes were explored, and the team began exploring a molecularly imprinted polymers approach. This approach seems promising but is more complex in terms of both the chemistry and the device fabrication scheme. The need to change the approach last year and the increased complexity have delayed progress. In addition, there are still supply chain delays and delays in getting needed repairs to equipment. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?This effort requiresmultidisciplinary expertise to answer the research questions. The research involves Auburn University facultyfrom chemical engineering and forestry. The involvement of multiple disciplines has widened the scope of training and professional development of the graduate and post-doctoral researchers working on this project. The graduate student involved in this project was exposedto various kinds of skill sets including,but not limited to, chemical functionalization, clean room fabrication, andadvanced sensing techniques such as QCMD, and SPR. Three undergraduate researchers from different universities developed research, communication skills, and an understanding of cellulose nanomaterials' potential in sensing applications. These students were funded by an NSF REU grant. Knowledge sharing and addressing research questions from different perspectives helped progress both the research and participants' professional development.Overall, the team has advanced their knowledge and understanding based on the experiments conducted and relevant literature. In addition, collaboration between faculty withdifferent expertise and from different departments helped to tune the pathways and design experiments, which is vital for the continual improvement of the personnel involved in this project. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The research findings conducted last year were communicated among the scientific communityvia conference talks. Surface modification and the propertiesof APTES-modified CNC films werepresented at several international conferences attended by people from academia and industry.A provisional patent application has also been filed. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The main focus will be fabricating micron-scale cantilever beams from modified CNCs and testing their suitability assensors. The material developed via surface modification and polymer coating has proven effective for selectively sensing carbofuran, as tested using QCMD and SPR. The ultimate goal of this high-risk, high-reward project will be to determine sensor performance based on changes in the resonance frequency of fabricated CNC devices. In addition, work will begin on developing sensors for two other analytes:β lactoglobulin and Amoxicillin, a food allergen and antibiotic residue, respectively.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The overall goal of this work is to advance the fundamental understanding of CNCs modification to enable their use in sensing applications. In addition, this high-risk/high-reward research aims to develop a cost-effective, sensitive, selective, rapid, user-friendly device for multiplexed detection of analytes based on CNC MEMS. In particular, the researchis focused on the detection of model emerging contaminants and food allergens. Due to their commercial availability, this project is focused on using sulfated CNCs extracted from wood biomass sources. One of the challenges of sulfated CNCs is the hydrolytic stability of CNC films. This is a critical challenge for the development of sensors for use with aqueous media (e.g., food, water). The team made significant progress in understanding how APTES modification affected hydrolytic stability and other properties of CNC films. The team also overcame a key challenge from the first year of research by demonstrating that molecularly imprinted polymers can be coated onto CNC films and used for analyte detection.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Amit, S. K., Bish, T., Gomez-Maldonado, D.. Peresin, M. S., Davis, V. A. Hydrolytically Stable Films from 3-Aminopropyl Triethoxysilan (APTES) Modified Cellulose Nanocrystals. AIChE Fall, Phoenix, AZ, 2022.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Davis, V. A.; Amit, S. K.; Peresin, M. S.; Gomez-Maldonado, D., Cellulose Nanocrystals for Adsorption and Sensing Applications, TAPPI Nano, Helsinki, Finland (June, 2022)
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Davis, V. A.; Amit, S. K.; Peresin, M. S.; Gomez-Maldonado, D., Properties and Applications of APTES Modified Cellulose Nanocrystals (CNC). ACS Fall Meeting, Chicago, USA (August, 2022)
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Amit, S. K.; Gomez-Maldonado, D.; Ashurst, W. R.; Peresin, M. S.; Davis, V. A. Cellulose Nanocrystals: A Versatile Platform for the Detection of Allergens and Emerging Contaminants. In Gordon Research Conference on Nanoscale Science and Engineering for Agriculture and Food Systems, Manchester, NH, June 2022.
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Progress 02/01/21 to 01/31/22
Outputs
Target Audience:This project aims to advance the understanding of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) as a versatile platform for the rapid, low cost, sensitive, multiplexed detection of food allergen and emergent contaminants in water and food. As the research team is targeting to detect a food allegern, an antibiotic residue, and a pesticide as contaminants of water and food, the overall development will have significant impact to the mass public, agricultural and environmental agencies, water treatment facilities, and the chemical and food industries. The segment of the research conducted over the past year is very fundamental compared to overall goal of this project. This initialwork will be helpful to nanomaterial research community to develop methods and tune processibility to utilize CNCs in different aspects via surface functionalization and/or in sensing applications. As the target audience of this segment of research is mainly research community, the effort to share the knowledge will be via scientific publications, conference talks or poster presentations. Changes/Problems:COVID associated supply chain delays and quarantines have caused some delays. The major change the research team has adapted is with the sensing approach. Since the antibody-based approach lacks selectivity for the target analystes (carbofuran, amoxicillin, beta lactoglobulin), they developed molecular imprinted polymer based approach. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?This project helped the researchers to develop their understanding ofdifferent sensing approaches and their pros and cons. The related investigation and experimental work helped the graduate student and postdoc to learn new skill sets, method development, and characterization tools required for this project. As this project is a interdisciplinary research, both chemical engineering and forestry researchers shared their expertise and knowledge to excel the project. In addition, relevant courses are also being completed by assigned graduate student to understand the research questions and come up with possible strategy to resolve the issue. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?In addition to the grantees meeting, the research group has submitted abstracts for presentations at TAPPI Nano and ACS. In addition, the chemical engineeringgraduate student has presented this work via poster sessions andresearch talks within Auburn University which was attended by researchers of different department of Auburn University. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The plan for thenext yearis to work on selectivity and sensitivity of molecular imprinted polymermodified CNCs. The initial approach will be testing the selectivity and sensitivity with QCMD and SPR. Upon successful approach of sensing analytes, team will start working on device fabrication with this CNC films and mechanical characterization of these devices. In parallel, the research team will also investigate the mechanical properties of polymer imprinted CNC films and also focus on the processibility to achieve significant mechanical properties compared to other sensor materials.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The research team is focused on developing user-friendly sensors using cellulose nanocrystals which can be sourced from trees. The preliminary goal is to advance the knowledge of CNC modifications and processability to fabricate sensor devices from tree-based nanomaterials. The research team divided the overall project into different objectives to address the challenges. In one year, they made progress on modifying the sulfated CNCs to enhance hydrolytic stability which is required for aqueous phase detection. They have also explored the mechanical properties of pristine and modified CNC films. Based on the experimental observations, sulfated CNC can be stabilized with surface modification and without losing the inherent mechanical properties of unmodified CNCs. Although this mechanical testing is not performed onthe devices, the mechanical property of the material will highly impact the device property. The research team also explored different sensing techniques for model analytes. The modified CNC adsorbed the analytes. However, it was found that the proposed antibody-based detection lacks selectivity. Anew approach to utilize CNCs todetect pesticide, food allergen and antibiotic residue with the goal of achieving both high sensitivity and selectivity. Molecularly imprinted polymers are showing some initial promise and will be further studied usingquartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCMD) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR).The revised plan is to developa molecular imprinted polymer-based method to capture the analytes which will be coupled with modified CNC to fabricate sensor devices.
Publications
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