Duration: 10/01/2026 to 09/30/2031

Administrative Advisor(s):

NIFA Reps:

Non-Technical Summary

Biosensors are needed in agriculture, food, environmental, and energy sectors to detect potentially dangerous contaminants and toxins, and to monitor important processes for better quality and operational control. Nanomaterials and advanced data analytics are key enablers to empower biosensors. Even with the advances in biosensors and nanotechnology in the past decades, much remains to be explored. The main goal of the NC1194 multistate project is to create better ways to incorporate nanotechnology, data sciences, including artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), and biosensors to generate solutions for the needs in agriculture, food, environment, and relevant industries. USDA prioritizes innovative technologies, technology-enabled decision support systems, and intelligence tools to support US agriculture. The NC1194 multistate project sits at the crossroads of nanotechnology, biosensors, and data analytics and is well-positioned to serve this national priority. As a committee, we will develop technologies that stakeholders in relevant industries can use to meet their various needs, and we will provide training and problem-solving capacities to support stakeholders to serve the benefit of the general public. The member institutions will closely collaborate to engage in activities of research, education, and outreach to advance relevant technological fields, to train the future workforce, and to promote commercialization and industrial adoption of the developed technologies and solutions. Our ultimate goal is to advance biosensors- and nanomaterial-based technologies and applications to enhance the productivity and economic efficiency of the US agriculture to better serve our national interests and the American public for the next five years and beyond.

Statement of Issues and Justification

 

The development of sensing and processing technologies enabled by nanotechnology and nanomaterials, powered by AI, ML, and data science, to serve the agricultural, food, environmental, and energy sectors, remains the central goal of the NC-1194 multistate project. Even though great progress has been made in the scientific understanding of nanoscale phenomena and molecular mechanisms of interactions between nanomaterials and biological systems, much remains to be explored. For example, how can nanotechnology and nanomaterials be effectively utilized to address the need for rapid and reliable detection and mitigation of pathogens that impact agricultural and food systems? How do artificial/synthesized nanomaterials impact the environment and ecosystem? How can nanotechnology be used to improve food security? How can the vast quantity of data collected via nano-enabled biosensors be used to support AI-enabled decision-making? These are just several examples among many that call for further investigation and exploration at the crossroads of biosensors, nanotechnology, AI, and data science that impact agricultural, food, environmental, energy, and other allied systems. 

USDA Science and Research Strategy 2023-2026 lists five priorities. Priority 1 is “accelerating innovative technologies and practices”, which calls for “technology-enabled decision support systems” and “collaborative intelligence tools” to support US agriculture in particular. Biosensors and nanotechnology are among the research areas that directly support this priority. Objectives 1-3 address this priority by enabling nanotechnology-based smart sensors for detection while considering the current context of sustainable development and environmental/health implications of engineered nanomaterials. Priority 3 is “bolstering nutrition security and health”, which requires “predictive analytics and data transparency” that are needed to better monitor “pathogen virulence factors” that affect agricultural and food systems, and construct food systems to better serve American consumers. 

Priority 4 is “cultivating resilient ecosystems,” which involves building sustainable and adaptable terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems via the utilization of genomics and genome editing tools, microbiome research, as well as management of infectious diseases and pest control. For all these priority areas, biosensors and nanotechnology play significant roles in addressing compelling problems. As addressed in Objective 4, rapid responses to food safety concerns in processed foods and/or to crops and livestock epidemics require fast and accurate detection and assessment of pathogenic virulence factors onsite, which requires further advances in biosensor technology, nanotechnology, and AI-powered data analytics to create more user-friendly and accurate tools and techniques. Novel biosensors could support more effective and rapid monitoring of crop growth, animal welfare, and environmental health, leading to improved practices that reduce costs while boosting productivity, ultimately safeguarding both food security and ecological sustainability in the long term.

Finally, priority 5 is “translating research into action”, which calls for better communication, education, and workforce development to meet the needs of US agriculture. Objective 5 of the NC-1194 project aligns well with this priority; we aim to “Develop instructional modules to educate and prepare the future workforce on nanofabrication, biosensing, AI and ML tools, and risks posed by nanomaterials, and engage with industry partners to commercialize the developed technologies”. 

As stated earlier, our ultimate goal in this renewed project effort is to advance biosensors- and nanomaterials-based technologies and applications to enhance the productivity and economic efficiency of the US agriculture to better serve our national interests and the American public for the next five years and beyond.

 

Related, Current and Previous Work

Overview

The NC1194 multistate project was first started in October 2006. Over the last almost 20 years, the multistate committee has aimed to provide a suite of distributed technologies based on nanomaterials and biosensors to monitor agricultural and food production sytems, to analyze aggregated data in the context of the high biological and climatological complexity, and to adaptively address threats and opportunities for improving agricultural and food safety, security, and quality. The research areas of biosensors and nanotechnology are evolving rapidly. A review conducted by the NC1194 committee members in 2021 showed that the number of publications in the biosensor area doubles each decade, and currently, approximately 5000 peer-reviewed papers are published each year (McLamore et al., 2021). In the past two decades, when the NC1194 project was active, most biosensor manuscripts were derived from institutions located in China, followed by the US, India, and then a group of countries accounting for 3–5% of the total publications (e.g., South Korea, Iran, Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan, Italy, Spain, Canada, and France). Medical applications accounted for the most of all biosensor publications, followed by applications in food, environmental sciences, and agriculture (McLamore et al., 2021). Clearly, applications in agriculture-relevant areas are among the main focuses of the biosensor research community, which remains true today. 

A recent report estimated that seven major foodborne pathogens accounted for over 53,300 hospitalizations and over 931 deaths in 2019 alone in the US (Scallan Walter et al., 2025). Naturally, most devices developed by biosensor researchers focused on the detection of foodborne pathogens, followed by pesticides, GMO foods, food toxins, food allergens, and chemical residues in food (Griesche and Baeumner, 2020). In addition, food losses in the supply chain due to molding, pests, poor handling, and other causes account for 31% of all the food produced in the US (Buzby et al., 2014). Reducing the food losses also calls for effective monitoring by easy-to-use biosensors. A common theme across this broad spectrum of sciences is the need to understand complex molecular, cellular, and biological processes, for which the development and utilization of biosensors and sensing technologies play key roles. Even with the advances in biosensor research in the past two decades, much remains to be explored. The critical analysis showed that most biosensor manuscripts address decades-old questions and promise only incremental improvement based on previously successful strategies (McLamore et al., 2021). Innovations are still much needed in the four key areas: i) integrated sample preparation, ii) label-free or direct detection in complex matrices, iii) long-term sensor stability, and iv) development of low-cost and user-friendly devices for onsite applications. Members of the NC1194 project aim to continue working in all of these key areas to make more progress in the next five years.

To enable more powerful biosensors and to improve agricultural products and foods in general, nanomaterials are increasingly utilized as molecular and cellular probes, as well as additives to improve functionalities and properties of biological materials, foods, and feeds. Hence, systematic study of nano-scale processes/materials and the development of nano-enabled biosensing apparatus are critical (Ramesh et al., 2022). Nanotechnological advances have paved the way for using various nanomaterials, which directly interact and are in contact with the biomolecules or analytes for which the biosensors are intended to be used. Such biosensors have many stand-alone properties, including customized magnetic, electrical, chemical, and optical properties that enable various signal transducers to enhance sensitivity and specificity of the biosensors and to reduce the response time for end-use applications (Mao et al., 2018; Zhu et al., 2018) when compared with the traditionally used biosensors. Integration of nanotechnology with biosensors offers many advantages and merits, such as large surface-to-volume ratio, manifestation of biological transduction and signaling mechanisms, and various readout mechanisms for rapid and accurate detection of a broad range of targets of interest to agriculture, food, and environmental surveillance with high sensitivity and specificity (McLamore et al., 2021; Ramesh et al., 2022;  Rizwan et al., 2022).  Nanotechnology has propelled biosensors to new heights in recent years. It has been demonstrated that using nanomaterials/nanostructures for biosensing applications can increase important sensor properties, including limit of detection (LOD), precision, and reliability (Ramesh et al., 2022). The cutting-edge nano-enabled biosensors have been shown to rapidly detect the target analyte, exhibit single-molecule level sensitivity, and considerably boost the throughput of the biosensors (Ramesh et al., 2022). The obstacles to biosensors’ widespread use have been eased quite substantially. However, there are also drawbacks associated with nanotechnology, including the unavoidable emission of nanoparticles further into the environment and the atmosphere (Simon et al., 2019; Aspermair et al., 2021). In addition, quantum effects produce exceptionally high sensitivity, random noise, and background signals. The response of such sensor exposure can lead to certain analytes that have been observed to be cross-sensitive, nonlinear, and unpredictable. Materials such as graphene are promising for biosensing applications; however, they have not been effectively mass-produced. The world will not be able to fully use nanotechnology’s incredible potential in biosensors unless these issues are resolved (D’Souza et al., 2017; Kailasa et al., 2020; McLamore et al., 2021). The members of the NC1194 project will explore all these pathways to improve nano-enabled biosensors that can address the needs of US agriculture.  

Biosensors and nanotechnologies are increasingly taking advantage of remote networking and AI, to provide smart decision support systems to farmers, food processors, and consumers. The NC1194 project will take full advantage of the new capacity of AI powered data analytics and decision-making support, and build upon what has been achieved in our past efforts, to develop new tools that will empower biosensors with higher specificity and sensitivity, better time responses, and higher throughput and better reliability to meet the needs of US agriculture, food as well as healthcare industries.

This multistate project aims to provide a collaborative framework in which researchers within and beyond the North Central region of the US will share their expertise in multiple disciplines, including agricultural and biological engineering, chemical engineering, environmental toxicology, plant and soil sciences, food science, nanotechnology, electrochemistry, analytical chemistry, and microbiology. Collaborations in the past five years (the previous NC1194 project) have produced research grants, publications, devices, and have helped train the next generation of biosensor engineers and nanotechnologists. Research outcomes have also been disseminated at conferences and as university courses. In the last five years, members of the NC1194 group have collectively published over 300 refereed papers, many in top journals in the field such as Biosensors and Bioelectronics, Analytical Chemistry, ACS Nano, Journal of Hazards Materials, etc. Most of these publications have been authored or co-authored by over 40 graduate students trained in the NC1194 participants’ laboratories. Project members made at least 80 presentations, participated in and organized workshops, taught courses, managed two NSF-funded REU programs, and participated in one USDA REEU program to train the next generation of scientists and engineers. In addition, NC1194 research outcomes have been regularly highlighted by the Multistate Research Fund Impacts Program, as the feature article in their respective issues, and/or covered in the scientific press (i.e., NSF Research News and AlChE Chemical Engineering Progress (CEP) Magazine). The members collaborated on review papers on antimicrobial resistance, biosensors in food, agriculture, and the environment, and micro/nanoplastics in agricultural and food systems (McLamore et al., 2022; Yu et al., 2023). Participants have notably made several research tools publicly available to help identify relevant research (SENSEE; SC) and shared protocols for research related to biosensors and antimicrobial resistance (IA, MI, SC). The results were disseminated to the industry and scientific communities at the annual meetings of professional societies, the Global Alliance for Rapid Diagnostics (GARD) symposium, and other scientific conferences such as American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, Institute of Food Technologists, American Chemical Society, Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Gordan Research Conference (Nanotechnology in Agriculture and Environmental Nanotechnology), Sustainable Nanotechnology Organization and International Association of Food Protection, etc.

Research impact of past work

Numerous advances have been made in nanomaterial-enabled biosensor technologies across a spectrum of applications for improving the safety and security of agriculture and food systems, as well as maintaining quality across the food supply chain through the research work of the NC1194 group. Among notable advances are: (i) innovative nanomaterial morphologies such as coupling cellulose nanofiber (CNF) to surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), for the rapid detection of pesticide residues (paraquat, etc.) in vegetables (MO); (ii) assessment of metabolite distributions in plant and animal cells (IA, UT); (iii) development of strategies to stabilize enzymes for the fabrication of glucose and alcohol biosensors with long operational life (GA); and (iv) enhancement of the performance of a variety of other biosensing modalities for rapid detection of pathogens, prions, viruses, contaminants (e.g., heavy metals), pesticides, and antibiotics residues in water and agricultural and food products (AR, AZ, FL, HI, IA, MI, WI).

In addition to detection, nanotechnologies for the removal of contaminants have been developed. Nanocomposite membranes for the removal and degradation of the persistent, toxic polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water (KY), nanomaterials for the removal of heavy metals (WI), nanomaterials to reduce microbials and chemical contaminants in irrigation water (CT), and nanofibers to capture chemicals and pathogens from liquids (NY) were developed. 

The research focused on the sustainable development of nanotechnology via molecular-level understanding of the interaction of nanomaterials with biological interfaces, both to design applications that interface with biological systems and to evaluate the potential risks posed by the release of nanoscale materials into the environment. Several groups have made significant progress in characterizing and understanding environmental and health risks and toxicity mechanisms of a wide array of commonly used nanomaterials in food, agricultural, and biological systems before and after environmental transformations in simple and complex exposure scenarios (KY, WI, SC). Participants delved into multidisciplinary collaborations to address antimicrobial resistance, advancing affordable technologies to enhance the speed and sensitivity of the recovery and detection of pathogenic bacteria (AR, MI) as well as for the rapid clinical identification of antimicrobial resistance in pathogenic bacteria (MI). Researchers developed novel approaches with functionalized nanomaterials to prevent and treat infections with pathogenic organisms that were successfully demonstrated in animal models (SC). Members have also engineered new nanomaterials for targeted drug and vaccine delivery (AR, IA), and vaccines against animal viruses such as a swine disease (VA), in which a chimeric purified protein based on constructed Hepatitis B core antigen is self-assembled into virus-like particles. Edible films with novel antimicrobial and nutritional properties were developed (NJ). Nanomaterials were also developed to improve efficiency rates for value-added bioprocessing (AR, WI) and functional foods (IA). Our group has developed electrochemical analyses, using impedance spectroscopy, differential pulse voltammetry of biomolecule interactions such as DNA chains hybridization, antibody-antigen interaction in nanoscale (SD, WI). 

Significant progress has been made in the development, characterization, and optimization of self-assembled nanobrush/aptamer hybrid nanostructures for sensing (SC), enhancing the electrocatalytic performance of nickel oxide nanoparticles on three-dimensional carbonized eggshell membrane for the detection of urea in alkaline solution (SD), and DNA biosensors (SC, IA, UT, HI). For example, the construction of a DNA biosensor includes multiple self-assembled steps to form a highly specific DNA structure on the sensor surface for recognizing the target DNA sequence specific to Cryptosporidium in water samples (UT) or gene-based diagnostic assays for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 virus in saliva (SC, IA, HI). Work is underway in utilizing a new class of nanomaterials that have the catalytic ability of natural enzymes, known as nanozymes, for biosensing (WI).

The incorporation of smartphones for rapid, economic, and user-friendly analysis of biosensing signals has been further improved, with sophisticated image processing algorithms and the coupling of a fluorescent microscope for detecting pathogens and environmental toxicants (AZ, HI). Fluorescence detection has also been attempted to improve the assay reliability and reproducibility, and has been successfully demonstrated for detecting cancer markers from blood as well as nucleic acid amplification. A new concept was demonstrated utilizing the capillary flow as a sensing mechanism for detecting E. coli and Zika virus (AZ). A user-friendly prototype has been designed, fabricated, and tested for field water and human saliva samples. The sensitivity and specificity of this method were tested for the detection of norovirus from wastewater, SARS-CoV-2virus from aerosols, and human saliva samples (AZ).

Researchers in FL and SC developed value-added nanotechnology products from agricultural waste for food packaging, solar cells, sensors, as well as new sensor systems for studying signaling in plant/mammalian systems. Submicron fibers with surface properties suitable to capture and concentrate target chemicals, pathogens (E. coli), or biological molecules in microfluidics were fabricated (NY). A highly sensitive microfluidic system was designed to detect mycotoxins and cancer cells (WI).

Complementary to the work on discrete biosensing technologies for wide distribution in the environment, several participants of this project have been working on the development of networking approaches and AI to aggregate data and provide meaningful decision support to improve food quality, safety, and the cost-effectiveness of agriculture and bioprocessing (AR, AZ, FL, SC, MI, NJ). A novel Raspberry Pi-based optics device, along with a support vector machine (SVM)-based machine learning algorithm, has been developed, fabricated, and tested for classifying the oil types from oil spill samples from open sea water with > 90% accuracy (AZ).

Several members of NC1194 pooled their expertise to collaboratively assess the state of biosensor research in the American continent, to critically identify challenges and opportunities, and to guide future research. This effort produced a refereed review paper on “Food, Environmental and Agricultural Sensing Technologies (FEAST) in North America”(McLamore et al., 2021).  In 2022, facing the emerging threat to the environment and public health by micro- and nano-plastics, the committee published another comprehensive review on bioanalytical approaches for the detection, characterization, and risk assessment of micro- and nano-plastics in agriculture and food systems (Yu et al., 2023). This paper was the first such attempt in the US by food and agricultural researchers to identify the key knowledge and technology gaps that exist and provide a roadmap for research in this field to move forward. The collaborative impact of the committee to the relevant research community is well represented by these contributions.

In the next five years, the members of the NC1194 group will continue to develop better biosensors and apply nanotechnology to address various problems in the US agriculture, food, health, environment, and energy industries. The members will continue to explore and engage in active collaborations to achieve the goals laid out in this proposal. 

Education and extension impact 

NC1194 members are highly active in instruction by developing and sharing teaching/training materials related to nanotechnology and biosensors. This includes leading two NSF-REU programs (IA) where students contributed to the research and development of wearable graphene-based stress sensors. The participants conducted workshops and disseminated training manuals with high school teachers in the USA (FL, MD) and abroad (Colombia, China) for creating flexible graphene circuits (FL).

In the past five years, led by MI participants, the Global Alliance for Rapid Diagnostics (GARD) Forum held global technical sessions, short courses, and an Innovation Challenge, including nanotechnology and biosensors. The forum hosted almost 1,500 participants from 38 countries. MI station representatives demonstrated nanoparticles and biosensors at the MSU Science Festival, designed for kids to adults. Together with Extension specialists in the SmartPath Center of Excellence, SC participants have developed a series of workshops, videos, and open-source protocols that are currently being disseminated through extension programs in FL, IA, MD (University of Maryland Eastern Shore), as well as other partner institutes. These workshops and extension materials are focused on how to apply electrochemical biosensors for pathogen detection in fresh produce production (including irrigation water, frost protection, etc). SC participants have developed three diagnostic kits and established a fabrication protocol for manufacturing at a regional scale. Participants from HI, GA, and AR are active members and have led the Biosensor Committee ITSC 230 of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineering (ASABE), organizing and chairing oral sessions at the annual international meeting. Internationally, members from NY organized short courses on nano-biotechnology and nano- and bio-sensors, as well as full courses in advanced topics in colloidal science and nanoscale delivery systems for biologically active molecules that were taught in Kazakhstan and the Philippines. 

Several groups partnered in various initiatives to strengthen ties to industry, including the identification and execution of new research needs, and to strengthen research capacity globally to develop practical, cost-effective biosensing technologies. There are also partnerships with GARD to establish Centers of Excellence (COEs) around the world, and agreements with food companies to validate and license technologies for rapid pathogen extraction/detection (MI). We aim to build upon our past successes, and promote more collaborations with relevant industries to bring about commercialization and adoption of biosensors and nanotechnologies by various stakeholders to serve the US agriculture, food, environment, energy and healthcare industries to bring benefits to the general public.

 

Objectives

1. Enable nanotechnology-based smart sensors for accurate, reliable, cost-effective, onsite, and rapid detection of various entities relevant to agricultural, plant, and animal production, food supply chain, and environmental systems
   
2. Support the sustainable development of nano-based products and technologies for agricultural production, post-harvest processing, and packaging of nutritious and healthful food.
   
3. Assess environmental and health implications of engineered nanomaterials in agricultural, terrestrial, and aquatic systems.
   
4. Integrate AI and ML tools with nano/biosensors and other nanoscale systems derived data for effective decision support for agricultural and food security, safety, and sustainability.
   
5. Develop instructional modules to educate and prepare the future workforce on nanofabrication, biosensing, AI and ML tools, and nanomaterials-posed risks and engage with industry partners to commercialize the developed technologies.
   

Methods

In the next five years, the members of the NC1194 group will continue to work collaboratively to advance the five objectives listed above. We will develop various methodologies and tools to achieve all the goals of the project. Below is a summary of the methods we will use.

Objective 1: Development of biosensors

Under this goal, we will develop biosensors enabled by nanotechnology that can provide accurate, reliable, cost-effective, onsite, and rapid detection of a broad range of target entities that are relevant to agriculture, food, and environmental systems. The group members will utilize many different physical, chemical, and biological means to create biosensors that can meet various needs. The signal transduction methods we will explore include electrochemical, optical/photonic, gravitational, acoustic, spectroscopic, thermal, etc. We will create different types of nanomaterials and nanostructures, including metallic nanoparticles and structures, bendable and wearable graphene substrates, carbon nanotubes, inorganic and organic nanoparticles, etc., and develop strategies to form nanomaterials-bioconjugate composites to serve as nanoprobes that will enhance the performance of biosensors. The group members will also explore various types of biosensor setups, including lab-in-a-tube, microfluidic microchip, portable sensor, etc., to facilitate easy deployment of the biosensors for onsite and in-field applications, and develop smartphone-based readout and data analytics that support high throughput and fast data generation and interpretation. An example of a smartphone-based microfluidic biosensor developed by Dr. Yoon (AZ) to detect micro- and nano-plastics in water is shown in Fig. 1. It also shows how data analytics will be incorporated with the biosensor. In a nutshell, we aim to develop methods and tools that can be easily adopted and used by everyday users to serve our stakeholders.

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Fig. 1 An example of a smartphone-based microfluidic biosensor platform to detect micro- and nano-plastics in water

The key to the success of the NC1194 project is active collaboration among all participants, facilitated by the technical committee. No single researcher or laboratory owns all the instruments that are needed for biosensor research; sharing existing resources at the participating institutions will greatly boost the research of each member. In addition, cross-validation is critically important in biosensor development to assess the effectiveness of any method, which requires active collaboration within the community that will be greatly facilitated by the technical community, as we have demonstrated before. Via the NC1194 committee email list, members have maintained active communications in the past, shared ideas, samples, and data, and provided important feedback to each other. We will keep doing so in the future as well. We will pool data on key collaborative projects to boost data analysis and generate a multistate summary of discoveries that can increase their impacts. We envision that the collaboration achieved through the NC1194 project will be a key factor in boosting our individual efforts in our pursuit of research goals.

 

Objective 2. Utilization of nanomaterials

Under this goal, we will explore ways of utilizing nanomaterials to enhance agricultural and food products to better serve the consumers. We will create nanocarriers (e.g., hollow metallic/silicon nanoparticles, natural polymer nanoparticles, biodegradable nanoparticles, etc.) that can facilitate transport and delivery of nutrients, therapeutics, drugs and vaccines to animals and humans with improved efficacy; we will also generate nano-enhanced micronutrient packs (e.g., nanoparticles of Zn, Se, Fe, etc.) that can improve plant nutrient uptake to boost crops yields. We will create food packaging materials with embedded nanosensors that will allow time-tracking and continuous monitoring of the foods to assure their safety and to reduce food waste. We will also create and incorporate nanomaterials such as catalytic TiO2 nanoparticles into post-harvest processing to improve food safety and security. We will also explore nano-enhanced micronutrients and functional materials as food additives to produce more nutritious and functional food to serve consumers with special needs (e.g., microfiber-enhanced texture-modified food for dysphagia patients). We will utilize various methods of nanofabrication, from wet chemistry synthesis to laser lithography, to produce nanomaterials with desirable properties, and develop effective ways to incorporate them into products, foods, and processes. We will also develop means to monitor the presence and interactions between nanomaterials and biological systems, to assess the safety implications of their presence in products and processes, and to ensure that their utilization will not generate any elevated safety risks to consumers. As described under Objective 1, collaboration among NC1194 members using the multistate committee platform will be a key to enhancing our efforts to pursue this line of work.

Objective 3. Assessment of the impacts of nanomaterials 

Under this goal, we will use a number of model systems ranging from invertebrates such as nematodes (Caenorhabditis elegans) and earthworms (Eisenia fetida) to vertebrate animals including mice and rats to study interactions of artificial nanomaterials with biological systems, and to assess and predict the potential risks associated with these nanomaterials. Additionally, we will utilize a safe and sustainable by design (SSbD) approach to insure the balance between efficacy and safety during development of various nano-enabled applications, including biosensors. For this purpose, multiple sublethal toxicity endpoints (reproduction, growth, behavior, reactive oxygen species along with transcriptomic and lipidomic profiles) will be used for screening of nanomaterials and their interaction with non-nano constituents in the applications, and necessary adjustments to the design will be made to minimize potential risks. For example, Dr. Tsyusko (KY) is utilizing this SSbD framework in the development of the nano-based agrochemicals for nitrogen delivery to crops and environmental remediation application for PFAS removal with nanocomposite membranes. We will also use various characterization methods, including spectroscopy, microscopy (electron, transmission, atomic force), MRI, etc., to study the interactions between nanomaterials and biological molecules to understand the mechanisms that nanomaterials may become concerns for the proper function of biological systems. We will design and implement proper sampling procedures to evaluate the impact of engineered nanomaterials on agricultural and environmental systems, and utilize the biosensors developed in objective 1 to collect data onsite. Again, collaboration among NC1194 participants is critical to achieve these goals. Biosensors developed by some members will be used by others to conduct data collection, and the data will be shared among all members to build proper data analytics and to find patterns that may reveal underlying mechanisms of universal significance. We will build a cloud-based data hub for all members to upload environmental data, which will enable a deeper and more thorough understanding of the behavior of engineered and/or natural nanomaterials, and their potential risk implications.

Objective 4. Data sciences and AI-enabled decision support 

As the rapid progress in AI is changing the landscape of technology development and scientific discovery, in the next five years, the members of the NC1194 project will focus on harvesting the power unleashed by AI to further our understanding of nanomaterials and nanoscale phenomena, and to develop better biosensors with increasing capabilities to meet the needs of our stakeholders in various industries. For example, Dr. Reyes-De-Corcuera (UF) is using novel protein folding algorithms such as OpenFold and AlphaFold3 to predict folding of enzyme variants produced in silico as well as enzyme sequences whose 3D structures have not been characterized empirically. This approach is accelerating the discovery of suitable enzymes for biosensor fabrication and applications. Dr. Yu (IA) is using a large-scale protein embedding (Roche et al., 2024) with E(3)-equivariant graph neural networks (EGNNs) called EquiPNAS-ESM2 (Lin et al., 2023) to study binding characteristics between proteins and nanoplastics. As shown in Fig. 2, this approach yields information revealing binding patterns between nanoplastics and proteins, which can lead to better-designed sensor platforms for nanoplastic detection and mitigation, and better understanding of the risks associated with nanoplastics, as to how their interactions with biosystems could be affected by their sizes, shapes, chemical properties, and environmental factors. Such knowledge was not obtainable in the past. Now we will utilize AI tools to fathom phenomena, which were beyond reach by purely experimental means.

"C:\Users\chenxuyu\Dropbox\Public\NC1194 fig.2.jpg"

Fig. 2 An example of AI-predicted binding patterns between different nanoplastics and proteins

AI algorithms are fast evolving, and their effectiveness relies on the size of the training data set. More data and better training will further improve their power. No one group can generate the scale of data, which will be needed to improve the performance of AI tools when it comes to biosensors and nanotechnology relevant to agriculture and food production. As a group, we will all contribute to data collection and AI training, which in turn will lead to better and more reliable AI and data tools that will benefit all. The NC1194 project is the platform that will make it possible for us to pursue these goals.

Objective 5. Educational and industrial engagement

It has always been a critical goal for the NC1194 multistate committee in the past to develop instructional modules to educate and prepare the future workforce on nanofabrication, nanomaterials-posed risks, and biosensing. For the next five years, we also aim to add AI and ML tools to our educational efforts, as we all believe that our future workforce needs to be well-versed in the latest advances in these fields. In the next five years, the members aim to jointly develop instructional modules for educating our students at our institutions on topics of importance to nanotechnology, biosensors, as well as data sciences and AI. We will implement a “backward” design strategy, starting by defining the learning objectives, then creating content and assessments to meet them. We plan to utilize the following specific methodologies for the development of instructional modules:

• Needs Assessment: Surveying industry partners and academic programs to identify key skill gaps in the workforce.
• Module Creation: Developing a mix of theoretical content (lectures, readings) and hands-on activities (virtual labs, detailed protocols for sensor fabrication).
• Assessment Design: Creating pre- and post-module quizzes to measure knowledge gain and rubrics for grading hands-on tasks to measure skill demonstration.

We also plan to implement experiential learning in our educational approach to integrate the teaching modules into active learning environments. We will design and implement course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs), and embed research projects into existing lab courses, allowing undergraduate students to actively engage in and contribute to research activities. We will support graduate students through our research efforts and train them to become pillars of the next generation of researchers in relevant fields. We will also develop opportunities for summer Internships/REU programs to host students from other institutions to broaden the project's reach. All of these rely on active collaboration among all members and member institutions, which the NC 1194 project enables.

Last but not least, all members will actively engage with industry partners and stakeholders to push for the commercialization and adoption of the developed technologies. In the next five years, we will work collaboratively to seek funding to host a symposium and/or a workshop to bring industrial partners and academicians together to build stronger ties and to boost academic-industry collaborations.

 

Measurement of Progress and Results

Outputs

Outcomes or Projected Impacts

Milestones

(2026):The project will be implemented over five years (2026-2031), with clearly defined milestones for each objective to ensure systematic progress and measurable outcomes. For Objective 1, the first year will focus on sensor design and material selection, laying the foundation for nano-enabled smart sensors. For Objective 2, the initial year will involve identifying target applications and defining sustainability metrics, followed by drafting guidelines for nano-product development. Objective 3 will begin with baseline data collection on nanomaterial behavior in agricultural, terrestrial, and aquatic systems during the first year. For Objective 4, the first year will focus on developing a robust data collection and preprocessing pipeline for sensor outputs. Finally, Objective 5 will start with designing a curriculum framework covering nanofabrication, biosensing, AI/ML tools, and risk assessment in the first year.

(2027):For objective 1, in the second year, prototypes will undergo rigorous validation for accuracy, reliability, and cost-effectiveness under controlled conditions. The second year will see the creation of nano-enabled packaging prototypes and their safety and performance evaluations for objective 2. The second year will involve conducting toxicity and exposure studies and developing preliminary risk models for objective 3. In the second year, AI and machine learning algorithms will be trained and validated for predictive analytics for objective 4. The second year will launch pilot instructional modules and certification programs for objective 5

(2028):By the third year, field trials will be conducted to benchmark performance, and comprehensive technical documentation and datasets will be compiled for objective 1. In the third year, life-cycle assessment reports will be completed, and pilot-scale production will begin for objective 2. By the third year, these models will be validated, and findings will be published and shared with regulatory bodies for objective 3. The third year will involve deploying decision-support dashboards in pilot farms and refining them based on user feedback for objective 4 In the third year, formal industry partnerships will be established, and internships and collaborative projects will commence for objective 5

(2029):The fourth and fifth years will concentrate on sensor optimization and engagement with industry partners to facilitate commercialization for objective 1 The final two years will focus on preparing a commercialization roadmap and strategies for industry adoption for objective 2. The fourth and fifth years will culminate in the establishment of best-practice guidelines and their integration into policy frameworks to ensure the safe and sustainable use of nanomaterials for objective 3. The final two years will scale up integration for regional agricultural systems and publish performance reports to demonstrate impact for objective 4. The fourth and fifth years will expand training programs nationally, track workforce placement, and document commercialization outcomes, ensuring a strong pipeline of skilled professionals and industry-ready technologies for objective 5.

(2030):Together, these milestones provide a structured roadmap for achieving the project’s objectives, ensuring the timely delivery of outputs, outcomes, and impacts that advance agricultural sustainability, food security, and technological innovation.

Projected Participation

View Appendix E: Participation

Outreach Plan

This outreach initiative aims to raise awareness, foster innovation, and build capacity around the transformative role of nanotechnology and biosensors in agriculture, food systems, and One Health (the intersection of human, animal, agriculture, and environmental wellbeing). The plan engages a diverse audience—including industry stakeholders, extension agents, researchers, students, and the general public—through dynamic, accessible, and interactive formats. We will use the routine pathways (i.e., peer-reviewed journals, professional conferences, etc.) to disseminate the findings made by all participants. In addition, we will also collaboratively engage in the following outreach efforts:

Outreach Activities will include:

• Infographics on Nanotechnology in One Health: Visually engaging infographics will illustrate how nano-enabled biosensors contribute to the interconnected health of humans, animals, plants, water, and the environment. These materials will be distributed at events and online to simplify complex concepts for broad audiences.
• Short Educational Videos: A series of concise, animated videos will explain the societal impact of nano-biosensors, highlighting applications in food safety, disease detection, environmental monitoring, and sustainable agriculture. These will be shared via social media, YouTube, and educational platforms.
• Short Courses on Nanotechnology and Biosensors: Modular online courses will be developed to introduce learners to the fundamentals of nanotechnology and biosensing, and to their applications in agriculture and food systems. These courses will target students, extension professionals, and early-career researchers.
• Student Innovation Challenge: A competitive event will invite students to design and prototype nanotechnology-enabled biosensor solutions addressing real-world agricultural and food system challenges. Winners will be recognized at conferences.
• Platforms for Engagement will include:
• GARD Forum (Global Alliance for Rapid Diagnostics): A venue for presenting research, sharing outreach materials, and networking with global experts in diagnostics and biosensing.
• Science Festivals: Public-facing events where interactive exhibits, infographics, and videos will engage families, educators, and community members in the science of nanotechnology and biosensors.
• Undergraduate Research Conferences and Forums: Opportunities for students to present their work, participate in the Innovation Challenge, and explore careers in nano-agriculture.
• Agri-Tech and Stakeholder Conferences: Industry-focused events where outreach materials and short courses will be shared with agricultural professionals, industry stakeholders, policymakers, and technology developers.
• Innovation Challenge: Hosted on online platforms, the Innovation Challenge will encourage interdisciplinary collaboration and entrepreneurial thinking among students.

Organization/Governance

To support the USDA-Multistate NC-1194 “Nanotechnology and Biosensors,” a governance structure is essential to ensure strategic alignment, interdisciplinary collaboration, ethical oversight, and effective translation of research into practice. Below is the governance framework tailored to the mission of NC1194.

1. USDA National Program Manager, assigned by USDA

Purpose: Provide strategic direction, ensure alignment with the USDA mission, and oversee high-level decisions.

Responsibilities:

• Approve strategic plans and funding allocations
• Review annual progress and impact reports
• Ensure integration with USDA priorities and national needs

2. Scientific Advisor, selected by USDA

Purpose: Guide scientific rigor, innovation, and interdisciplinary integration.

Responsibilities:

• Evaluate research proposals and progress
• Recommend emerging technologies and methodologies
• Advise on data standards and interoperability

3. NC1194 Officers – Chair, Vice-Chair, and Secretary

Purpose: Provide coordination, strengthen collaboration among members, and promote outreach activities

Rule of Succession: The secretary is the only person elected by members during the annual meeting. The secretary slides into the Vice-Chair position the following year, then becomes the Chair in two years.

Responsibilities:

• Organize annual meetings 
• Compile annual station reports, including summarizing outcomes, innovations, and community benefits
• Monitor outreach plan implementation
• Engage industry stakeholders and communities

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Attachments

Land Grant Participating States/Institutions

AZ, IA, IL, KS, KY, MI, MO, MS, NC, NY, VA, WI

Non Land Grant Participating States/Institutions