Advanced nanoelectronic architectures for THz-based biological agent detection

Abstract

The U.S. Army Research Office (ARO) and the U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC) jointly lead and support novel research programs that are advancing the state-of-the-art in nanoelectronic engineering in application areas that have relevance to national defense and security. One fundamental research area that is presently being emphasized by ARO and ECBC is the exploratory investigation of new bio-molecular architectural concepts that can be used to achieve rapid, reagent-less detection and discrimination of biological warfare (BW) agents, through the control of multi-photon and multi-wavelength processes at the nanoscale. This paper will overview an ARO/ECBC led multidisciplinary research program presently under the support of the U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) that seeks to develop new devices and nanoelectronic architectures that are effective for extracting THz signatures from target bio-molecules. Here, emphasis will be placed on the new nanosensor concepts and THz/Optical measurement methodologies for spectral-based sequencing/identification of genetic molecules.

Functionalized DNA materials for sensing and medical applications

“…During the course of this program, it has generated a significant number of science and technology accomplishments (for some citations prior to 2010 see reference [4]) and established many of the foundation elements that will be required for achieving the long-term goal of nanoscale sensing architectures. In 2010, DTRA leadership directed the program to increase the emphasis of the research towards scientific opportunities related to characterization and development of synthetic antibodies and receptors.…”

“…The development of novel molecular-based functionality paradigms that can be incorporated into DNA-based nannoscaffolds for the purposed of altering and controlling the THz and/or IR regime properties of the material superstructures has long been a goal of the U.S. Army program due the potential use of such smart material systems in sensing applications [1,4,16] In recent years, the Woolard research group at North Carolina State University has been conducting theoretical modeling and design studies on both organic molecular switches (QMSs) and biological molecular switches (BMSs) that may be used in DNA-based architectures to enable the precise extraction of nanoscale information (e.g., composition, dynamics, conformation) through electronic/photonic transformations to the macroscale. Here, the motivation was to realize "THz/IR-sensitive" materials that offered novel spectral-based sensing modalities that would be useful for detecting, identifying and characterizing select bio-molecules that were used to define the functional systems.…”

“…This particular programmatic structure was chosen because it allowed for starting with a single innovative photonic device paradigm (i.e., DNA PBG wave-guide) which was directly amenable to significant size down-scaling (i.e., one could start from larger aperture material systems and devices that could be characterized at long wavelengths) and that allowed many degrees of freedom for introducing molecular-level functionality (i.e., DNA-based nanoscaffolds could be tailored to incorporate many types of organic and biological molecules). The program was also carefully balanced so that it would contain focused efforts in each of the major science and technology challenge areas [4], which included: DNA Nanoscaffold Design and Self-Assembly; Electro-THz-Optical (ETO) Properties and Functionality (i.e., for defining novel functionality in the DNA nanoscaffolds); Physical Models and Numerical Simulation (i.e., for describing the required bio-molecular devices and systems); Novel Test and Characterization Methodologies and Technologies (e.g., fluidic chips, plasmonics, inelastic electronic tunneling, etc. ); and, THz-Sensitive Device & System Demonstration (i.e., which is represented by various unifications of the work in the prior four identified efforts).…”

“…Therefore, the envisioned bioarchitecture concept would seek to utilize the target bio-molecule as a strategic part of the transduction device and/or the smart material system, so one would be able to utilize multi-spectral excitation and detection for detecting and characterizing the desired molecular properties. The multi-disciplinary teamed effort, which was overviewed in a 2009 paper [4], set the long-range goal of realizing biologically-based molecular-level sensing in the context of integrated nanosensor platforms, and was initially organized around the four major thrusts: (1) DNA-based photonic bandgap (PBG) wave-guiding structures to facilitate quasi-optical control of signal propagation in integrated molecular/electronic systems; (2) bio-inspired paradigms for establishing electro-THz-optical communication channels, propagating wave control methodologies and input/output function useful for incorporation into biologically-based devices and components; (3) test beds for the measurement and characterization of THz-sensitive bio-molecular elements and multiterminal devices; and (4) hybrid multi-terminal bio-molecular devices that can achieve (a) control and manipulation of signal propagation, and (b) enhanced sensor function, using molecular-level multi-photon and multi-wavelength processes. This particular programmatic structure was chosen because it allowed for starting with a single innovative photonic device paradigm (i.e., DNA PBG wave-guide) which was directly amenable to significant size down-scaling (i.e., one could start from larger aperture material systems and devices that could be characterized at long wavelengths) and that allowed many degrees of freedom for introducing molecular-level functionality (i.e., DNA-based nanoscaffolds could be tailored to incorporate many types of organic and biological molecules).…”