The goal of our project is to design and develop small-scale biosensors that incorporate airway pithelial cells to detect airborne pollutants. The design of these biosensors will be based on microfluidic devices. The deliverable of the project will be a working prototype for the future production of highly sensitive and portable devices for the detection of harmful airborne agents. Upon successful completion of this project, there are many exciting potential applications for these biosensors including the detection of warfare agents. With integration of a wireless communication system such as motes developed at UC Berkeley, these biosensors would enable a widelydeployable detection system linked into a real-time communications network. These sensor communication networks could provide a much needed early warning system for sensitive areas, such as in large population centers or areas with polluted air.

As the first biosensor project at UCM to monitor airborne pollutants, this project aligns with CITRIS's major thrust (links between human health and air pollution). Additionally, this airway cell -based sensor project represents a unique opportunity to apply sensor network technology to monitor the air quality in the Center Valley, which ranks amongst the most polluted air basins in the US and has been designated by EPA as a "nonattainment" area (a locality in which the air pollution levels persistently exceed the National Ambient Air Quality Standards).

The project's deliverable will be a functional, sensitive, and robust biosensor that can be manufactured for the low-cost and rapid detection of harmful airborne agents. This can be easily scaled up to create a detection network linked into a real-time communications network. These communication networks could provide a much needed system for air quality control in the Central Valley.

2009 Update:

Key Achievements
1. Establish nanoparticle-induced cytotoxicity pathways in airway epithelial cells.
2. Confirm apoptotic mechanism involved in nanoparticle-induced cytotoxicity.
3. Demonstrate nanoparticles can disrupt trans-epithelial resistance that can be utilized in biosensor design to detect airborne nanoparticles.
4. Establish a dose-response relationship between nanoparticles and the decrease trans-epithelial resistance that can provide a basis for qualitative detection of airborne nanoparticles.
5. Results collected in this “seed” project have been used as “preliminary results” for one NIH and one NSF grant application.
6. One peer-reviewed journal article was credited to this “seed” project.
7. Two under-represented undergraduate students supported by this project.

Societal Impact:

With the significant progress and development of nanotechnology, nanoparticles have been applied to various research areas and potentially in industrial and clinical use. The early and accurate detection of these particles is a critical first line of defense against these potential health or occupational hazards. However, biosensors for nanoparticles are still under-developed. Our project aims to develop a highly sensitive and potential portable whole cell-based biosensor with the capability to detect the presence of a wide-variety of nanoparticles for air quality control.