TAO TREASURES, LLC — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: DHA201-003

Description

NanoBioFab will develop a most forward-looking technology “Inkjet Assisted Nano printing” (IA-Nano) for nano-material discovery and sensor fabrication. It employs custom inkjet printing synthesis and screening platforms. What makes IA-Nano synthesis system unique is that its nano-inks consist of 1) ~34 parent elements/metals 2) a larger number of “partner” compounds (oxides, sulfides, etc.) and 3) carbon-based materials (Graphene, CNT, etc.). Combinatorial mixing generates untold combinations of inks with different chemistries, with further combinations automatically produced by cross printing using a customized inkjet printer and software system that reproducibly generates nanomaterials at a rate of 10,000-100,000 different formulations/day. Composition and nanostructure of the “broad matrix” material libraries are exquisitely controlled, permitting transitioning to bulk synthesis. The IA-Nano screening system employs high-throughput resistance measurement for simultaneous rapid testing (minutes) pressure and detecting gas. The IA-nano platform can be executed on flexible substrates, that conform to skin or organoids or rigid materials per DOD and civilian needs. The approach has succeeded in generating a MEMs gas detecting nanosensor, which we engineered into a fully functional prototype as a wearable “wrist-watch” detector for extremely minute gases emanating from the skin. Phase I feasibility studies will empower high-throughput screening by scaling our single detector units to multiples of 20 units per chamber, for use of multiple chambers per screening, with multiple screenings per day. Phase I-II transition will permit a small test screening with unknowns prior to full scaleup. Phase II will allow for the execution of high-throughput screening and the rapid discovery of nano-sensors. Fabricated sensors will enable “murmuration behavior” for recording medical properly/improperly performed current and emergent procedures. IA-Nano sensors are applicable for use on mannequins and individuals including forwarding operational environments for DOD and civilian purposes alike.