Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Station reports were delivered from each participant describing completed and on-going research.

Administrative updates by Hongda Chen and Steve Lommel where Hongda Chen shared information on the collection of the publications on Smart Agriculture in the issue of The Bridge, Summer 2022.  He also provided update on the AFRI funding in 2021/2022 with the cap up to $ 650 K and with additional $150 K available for MSIs, small institutions and EPSCoR, he emphasized that the success rate was at 30% for the new investigator seed grants with a $300 K budget and that there is also a postdoc grant for an independent research available to the students within 6-8 months of their graduation.

Steve Lommel reminded that the annual report is due within 60 days and that the report should follow abbreviated format (3-page limit) with a stronger emphasis on impacts and products and alignment to societal challenges. He pointed out that continued collaboration and productivity are the key for the future success in the multistate project and conveyed that based on our impactful collaborative multistate activities we have an opportunity to be nominated for the APLU award. 

Anhong Zhou was elected as Secretary for the 2022-2023 term. Jose Reyes-De-Corcuera will become the chair and Chenxu Yu will become the vice-chair for the 2022-2023 term starting immediately after the meeting. The remainder of the meeting was devoted to discussing options for 2023 meeting, collaborations, joined publications, grant applications, and preparing a conference proposal. Full minutes are available at NIMSS website under Reports.

Lommel, Steve (slommel@ncsu.edu) – North Carolina State University / project administrator; Chen, Hongda (hongda.chen@usda.gov) – USDA-NIFA.

Contributions to the objectives of this project on its first year are summarized. At least 46 publications associated to the research and listed and the end of this report were published by the NC-1194 group.

1. Develop new technologies for characterizing fundamental nanoscale processes and fabricate self-assembled nanostructures

Outputs: Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) coupled with gold nanostars (AuNS) for rapid detection of paraquat residues in green tea was developed. The spiky tips of AuNS can serve as SERS hot spots to intensify Raman signals of analyte molecules and enhance substrate-analyte interactions resulting in a detection limit of this SERS method is 0.2 mg/kg. Cellulose nanofiber wipers fabricated on quartz paper coated with silver nanoparticles and AuNS detected ferbam on kale leaves with a detection limit was 50 µg/kg (MO). Spectroscopic imaging methods for analyzing protein-nanoplastics interactions were developed, Also methods to make functional food with enhanced nutritional values and quality (IA). Differential scanning fluorimetry at high hydrostatic pressure was developed to determine the melting temperature of proteins and better characterize their thermal unfolding mechanism (GA).

2. Develop devices and systems incorporating nanotechnology and data-driven analytics for detection of biological/chemical targets, with an emphasis on detection of infectious diseases in plants, animals, humans, and the environment

Outputs: Research on the characterization and understanding of environmental health toxicity and toxicity mechanisms of the various nanomaterials used in agriculture before and after environmental transformations in simple and complex exposure scenarios continued this year. The potential foliar application of plant-activated nitrogen nanocarriers to non-targeted soil and microbial communities was examined. The toxicity and potential applications of the composite membranes with 2D nanomaterials (phosphorene and hexagonal boron nitride) for degradation of the PFAS in drinking water was analyzed. (KY). Methods and nanomaterials to better understand and improve the mechanisms that control mixed manure composting and methods to monitor antibiotic-resistant bacteria during fresh produce production using municipal wastewater effluents were developed (IA). Nano-delivery systems for marine-originated polyphenols as therapeutics were developed (IA), Portable gene-based and immunosensors for rapid and label-free detection of SARS-CoV-2 in saliva were developed (IA, HI). First generation phosphate sensors based on stimulus-response nanobrush electrodes or on carbon nanoparticles, nitrogen sensors based on laser inscribed graphene electrodes, and Listeria spp. sensors were developed (SC IA). A novel InvG protein as a potential biosensor for Salmonella spp is being researched (SC FL). Functionalized iron-oxide nanoparticles for targeted cancer therapy have been developed (SC). A norovirus detection and the capillary flow profile method were tested for human saline samples and aerosol samples for detecting SARS-CoV-2 and a paper microfluidic and smartphone detection for toxic mushrooms and THC from human saliva were tested (AZ). A new affordable optical-based instrument (based on simple modification to an existing instrument) was built to conduct gene-based diagnostic assays, and its application for detecting SARS-CoV-2 virus in human saliva. A fluidics and image processing system to support the development of a related instrument, where samples can be tested for multiple pathogens and internal controls simultaneously with minimal pipetting, on a novel / low cost thermoformed plastic card was demonstrated and new electrode array systems based on customized “flex” circuit manufacture overlaid with low cost laser inscribed graphene networks, supporting disposable diagnostics development were made and interfaced with support instrumentation were made (HI)

3. Advance the integration of novel sensor networks, information systems, and artificial intelligence for effective risk assessment and decision support for food security and safety

Outputs: AI-driven imaging techniques for disease diagnosis and graphene potentiometric ion-selective electrodes for nitrate sensing were developed (IA). Machine learning (ML) tools were created to analyze Raman spectra to analyze the overall features of different macrophage subtypes in the study the anti-inflammatory effect of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in mouse macrophage cell line. Cytokine analysis and immunofluorescence imaging were also performed to validate and compare with Raman data (UT). A ML suite of for predicting E. coli concentration in alternative water sources used for leafy green irrigation and frost protection as well as a hierarchical clustering algorithm for cloud-based analysis of sensor-to-sensor variation during manufacturing was created in collaboration with the SmartPath Center of Excellence (NIFA Project No. 2018-67016-27578), (SC FL).  A method ML-based classification was tested for identifying oil spills, unknown bacterial species, and human NK cell subpopulations (AZ).

4. Develop and update education and outreach materials on nanofabrication, sensing, systems integration and application risk assessment.

Outputs: Short courses on Nanotechnology (NJ, KY), Biosensors (SC) and Entrepreneurship for Scientist (MI) at the international Global Alliance for Rapid Diagnostics (GARD) symposium with participants from 37 countries was taught. Also sessions on Nano-biointeractions and environmental responses at Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) North America meeting and at Nanoweek and Nanocommons conference in Limassol, Cyprus were organized (KY). Serving as US co-chair for US-EU Nanoecotoxicity COR to reach out to researchers from academia and industry working on Nanosafety. (KY). A REU-site on wearable graphene-based stress biosensor development with community college and high school students starting summer 2021 and educational tools for inspiring self-stewardship as well as racial inclusiveness were created (IA). A new 267-page textbook on tissue engineering with laboratory exercises and 126 figures was published (AZ).

5. Increase the number academic-industry partnerships to help move the developed technologies to commercialization phase.

IA station worked with a IUCRC team to improve academic-industry partnership and develop technologies for soil dynamics to promote commercialization of the technology

1. Akarapipad A, Kaarj K, Breshears LE, Sosnowski K, Baker B, Nguyen BT, Eades C, Uhrlaub JL, Quick G, Nikolich-Zugich J, Worobey M, and Yoon J-Y, "Smartphone-based Sensitive Detection of SARS-CoV-2 from Saline Gargle Samples via Flow Profile Analysis on Paper Microfluidic Chip," Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 2022, 207: 114192.
2. Angelé-Martínez, C., F.S. Ameer, Y.S. Raval, G. Huang, T.R.J. Tzeng, J.N Anker, J. Brumaghim (2022) Polyphenol effects on CuO-nanoparticle-mediated DNA damage, reactive oxygen species generation, and fibroblast cell death. Toxicology in Vitro 78: 105252.
3. Breshears LE, Nguyen BT, Akarapipad P, Sosnowski K, Kaarj K, Quirk G, Uhrlaub JL, Nikolich-Zugich J, Worobey M, and Yoon J-Y, "Sensitive, Smartphone-based SARS-CoV-2 Detection from Clinical Saline Gargle Samples," PNAS Nexus, 2022, 1(1): pgac028.
4. Breshears LE, Nguyen BT, Mata-Robles S, Wu L, and Yoon J-Y, "Biosensor Detection of Airborne Respiratory Viruses Such As SARS-CoV-2," SLAS Technology, 2022, 27(1): 4-17.
5. Bahng EJ, Rutenberg A, Gomes C. Spectrum and Matrix of Inclusion Tendencies and Experiences using Narrative Stories, Iowa State Conference on Race and Ethnicity, 23(1), 2022
6. Buchanan BC and Yoon J-Y, "Microscopic Imaging Methods for Organ-on-a-Chip Platforms," Micromachines, 2022, 13: 328.
7. Buchanan BC, Safavinia B, Wu L, and Yoon J-Y, "Smartphone-Based Autofluorescence Imaging to Detect Bacterial Species on Laboratory Surfaces," Analyst, 2022, 147: 2980-2987. Analyst HOT Articles 2022.
8. Day AS, Ulep T-H, Budiman E, Dieckhaus L, Safavinia B,  Hertenstein T, Yoon J-Y, "Contamination-resistant, Rapid Emulsion-based Isothermal Nucleic Acid Amplification with Mie-scatter Inspired Light Scatter Analysis for Bacterial Identification," Scientific Reports, 2021, 11: 19933.
9. Diaz, L. M., B. E. Lee, and D. M. Jenkins. 2021. Real-time optical analysis of a colorimetric LAMP assay for SARS-CoV-2 in saliva with a handheld instrument improves accuracy compared to endpoint assessment. Journal of Biomolecular Techniques. 32(3): 158–171. https://doi.org/10.7171/jbt.21-3203-011.
10. Domingo, R., C. Perez, D. Klair, H. Vu, A. Candelario-Tochiki, X. Wang, A. Camson, J. N. Uy, M. Salameh, D. Arizala, S. Dobhal, G. Boluk, J.-P. Bingham, F. Ochoa-Corona, M. E. Ali, J. P. Stack, J. Fletcher, J. Odani, D. M. Jenkins, A. M. Alvarez, and M. Arif, M. 2021. Genome-informed loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay for specific detection of Pectobacterium parmentieri in infected potato tissues and soil. Sci. Rep. 11, 21948. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-01196-4.
11. Chen* C., Unrine J.M., Hu Y., Guo L., Tsyusko O.V., Fan Z., Liu S., Wei G. 2021. Responses of soil bacteria and fungal communities to pristine and sulfidized zinc oxide nanoparticles relative to Zn ions. Journal of Hazardous Materials 405, 124258.
12. Choo, K. W., Dhital, R., Mao, L., Lin, M., Mustapha, A. 2021. Development of polyvinyl alcohol/chitosan/ modified bacterial nanocellulose films incorporated with 4-hexylresorcinol for food packaging applications. Food Packag. Shelf Life. 30, 100769
13. Cícero C Pola, Sonal V Rangnekar, Robert Sheets, Beata M Szydłowska, Julia R Downing, Kshama W Parate, Shay G Wallace, Daphne Tsai, Mark C Hersam, Carmen L Gomes, Jonathan C Claussen, Aerosol-jet-printed graphene electrochemical immunosensors for rapid and label-free detection of SARS-CoV-2 in saliva, 2D materials, 9(3), 035016, 2022.
14. Diehl, M., Kang, M.J., Reyes-De-Corcuera, J.I.* (2022) Effect of high-pressure technologies on enzymes used in nonfood processing applications in Effect of High Pressure Technologies on Enzymes, Leite Júnior, B. and Tribst, A., Editors. Academic Press. In press
15. Eke J., Banks L., Mottaleb M.A., Morris A.J., Tsyusko O.V., and Escobar* I.C. 2021. Dual-Functional Phosphorene Nanocomposite Membranes for the Treatment of Perfluorinated Water: An Investigation of perfluorooctanoic acid removal via filtration combined with ultraviolet irradiation or oxygenation. Membranes 11, no. 1: 18.
16. Eluchie C, Hu H, Johnson Z, Gomes C, Claussen J, Hu H, An Explorative Study to Use Graphene-based Materials for Aircraft Icing Mitigation, AIAA AVIATION 2022 Forum, 4115, 2022. https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2022-4115.vid
17. Hjort R, Gomes CL, The Importance of Sensors in Water Quality Research and Monitoring, Resource Magazine, 29(4), 17-19, 2022
18. Hjort, R.G., R.R.A. Soares, J. Li, D. Jing, L. Hartfiel, B. Chen, B. Van Belle, M. Soupir, E. Smith, E.S. McLamore, J.C. Claussen, C.L. Gomes (2022) Hydrophobic laser-induced graphene potentiometric ion-selective electrodes for nitrate sensing. Microchimica Acta 189 (3), 1-11.
19. Jiao, C., Z. Guo, J. Gong, Y. Zuo, S. Li, D. Vanegas, E.S. McLamore, Y. Shen (2022) CML8 and GAD4 function in (Z)–3–hexenol–mediated defense by regulating γ–aminobutyric acid accumulation in Arabidopsis. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry 186, 135-144.
20. Kim S, Patarajarin Akarapipad, Brandon T. Nguyen, Lane E. Breshears, Katelyn Sosnowski, Jacob Baker, Jennifer L. Uhrlaub, Janko Nikolich-Zugich, and Jeong-Yeol Yoon, "Direct Capture and Smartphone Quantification of Airborne SARS-CoV-2 on a Paper Microfluidic Chip," Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 2022, 200: 113912
21. Kim S, Day AS, and Yoon J-Y, "Machine Learning Classification of Bacterial Species Using Mix-and-Match Reagents on Paper Microfluidic Chips and Smartphone-based Capillary Flow Analysis," Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 2022, 414: 3895-3904.
22. Kim S, Ciara Eades, and Yoon J-Y, "COVID-19 Variants’ Cross-Reactivity on the Paper Microfluidic Particle Counting Immunoassay," Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 2022, doi:10.1007/s00216-022-04333-8. Papers in Forefront.
23. Lee, B.-E., T. Kang,  M. Jenkins, Y. Li, M. Wall, and S. Jun. 2022. A single-walled carbon nanotubes-based electrochemical impedance immunosensor for on-site detection of Listeria monocytogenes. Journal of Food Science. 87(1): 280-288. 10.1111/1750-3841.15996
24. Liang Y, Avory Zhou, Candace S. Bever, Luisa W. Cheng, and Jeong-Yeol Yoon, "Smartphone-Based Paper Microfluidic Competitive Immunoassay for the Detection of Alpha-Amanitin from Mushrooms," Microchimica Acta, 2022, 189: 322.
25. Liang Y, Avory Zhou, and Jeong-Yeol Yoon, "Machine Learning-Based Quantification of (-)-trans-delta-Tetrahydrocannabinol from Human Saliva Samples on a Smartphone-Based Paper Microfluidic Platform," ACS Omega, 2022, 7(34): 30064–30073.
26. Lin, M.-H., Sun, L., Kong, F., Lin, M. 2021. Rapid detection of paraquat residues in green tea using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) coupled with gold nanostars. Food Control. 130, 108280.
27. Mannier C and Yoon J-Y, "Progression of LAMP as a Result of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Is PCR Finally Rivaled?" Biosensors, 2022, 12: 492.
28. McLamore, E.S., G. Moreira, D.C. Vanegas, S.P.A. Datta (2022) Context-Aware Diagnostic Specificity (CADS). Biosensors 12 (2), 101.
29. Oliveira, D.A., S. Althawab, E.S. McLamore, C.L. Gomes (2021) One-step fabrication of stimuli-responsive chitosan-platinum brushes for Listeria monocytogenes detection. Biosensors, 1(12), 511; DOI: 10.3390/bios11120511.
30. Reyes-De-Corcuera, J.I.* (2022) Enzymes – Inspring evolutionary wisdom. In nanozymes, advances and applications. Gunasekaran, S., Editor, CRC Press. 1-14.
31. Sosnowski K, Loh A, Zubler AV, Shir H, Ha SY, Yim UH, Yoon J-Y, "Machine Learning Techniques for Chemical and Type Analysis of Ocean Oil Samples via Handheld Spectrophotometer Device," Biosensors and Bioelectronics: X, 2022, 10: 100128.
32. Summerlin, H., C.C Pola, K.R. Chamakura K. Borel, R. Young, T. Gentry, E.S. McLamore, R. Karthikeyan, C. Gomes, (2021). Fate of enteric viruses during leafy greens (romaine lettuce) production using treated municipal wastewater and AP205 bacteriophage as a surrogate. J. Environmental Science and Health, Part A. 56(10): 1138-1144.
33. Sun J, Liu X, Wang Z, Yin F, Liu H, Nakamura Y, Yu C, Zhou D, Gastrointestinal digestion and absorption characterization in vitro of zinc‐chelating hydrolysate from scallop adductor (Patinopecten yessoensis), Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 102(8), 3277-3286, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.11673.
34. Wang Z, Sun J, Ma X, Liu X, Yin F, Li D, Nakamura Y, Yu C, Zhou D, Characterization of a synthetic zinc‐chelating peptide from sea cucumber (Stichopus japonicus) and its gastrointestinal digestion and absorption in vitro, Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.11811
35. Xie Y, Yu X, Wang Y, Yu C, Prakash S, Zhu B, Dong X, Role of dietary fiber and flaxseed oil in altering the physicochemical properties and 3D printability of cod protein composite gel, Journal of Food Engineering, 327, 111053, 2022 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2022.111053
36. Xie Y, Yu X, Wang Z, Yu C, Prakash S, Dong X, The synergistic effects of myofibrillar protein enrichment and homogenization on the quality of cod protein gel. Food Hydrocolloids, 127, 107468, 2022 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2021.126626
37. Yoon J-Y, "Tissue Engineering: A Primer with Laboratory Demonstrations," Springer: Cham, Switzerland, 2022, ISBN: 978-3-030-83695-5.
38. Yin S, Zhang W, Tong T, Yu C, Chang X, Chen K, Xing Y, Yang Y, Feedstock-dependent abundance of functional genes related to nitrogen transformation controlled nitrogen loss in composting, Bioresource Technology, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2021.126626
39. Yu C, Takhistov P, Alocilja E, Reyes de Corcuera J, Frey MW, Gomes CL, Mao Y, McLamore ES, Lin M, Tsyusko OV, Tzeng T-R, Yoon J-Y, Zhou A, Bioanalytical approaches for the detection, characterization, and risk assessment of micro- and nano-plastics in agriculture and food systems, Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-022-04069-5.
40. Yu X, Wang Y, Xie Y, Wei S, Ding H, Yu C, Dong X, Gelation properties and protein conformation of Grass Carp fish ball as influenced by egg white protein, Journal of Texture Studies. 2022. https://doi.org/10.1111/jtxs.12668
41. Yu W, Wang Z, Pan Y, Jiang P, Pan J, Yu C, Dong X, Effect of κ-carrageenan on quality improvement of 3D printed Hypophthalmichthys molitrix-sea cucumber compound surimi product, LWT, 154, 112279, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lwt.2021.112279
42. Zachary T Johnson, Nathan Jared, John K Peterson, Jingzhe Li, Emily A Smith, Scott A Walper, Shelby L Hooe, Joyce C Breger, Igor L Medintz, Carmen Gomes, Jonathan C Claussen, Enzymatic Laser‐Induced Graphene Biosensor for Electrochemical Sensing of the Herbicide Glyphosate, Global Challenges, 6(9), 2200057, 2022 https://doi.org/10.1002/gch2.202200057.
43. Zenhausern R, Alexander S. Day, Babak Safavinia, Seungmin Han, Paige E. Rudy, Young-Wook Won, and Jeong-Yeol Yoon, "Natural Killer Cell Detection, Quantification, and Subpopulation Identification on Paper Microfluidic Cell Chromatography Using Smartphone-based Machine Learning Classification," Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 2022, 200: 113916.
44. Zhang W., Karagiannidis I., Van Vliet E.D.S, Yao R., Beswick E., Zhou A., "Effects of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor on colon and breast cancer cells investigated by machine learning based non-invasive Raman spectroscopy", Analyst. 2021, 146, 6124-6131
45. Zhang W, Yu C, Wang X, Yin S, Chang X, Additives improved saprotrophic fungi for formation of humic acids in chicken manure and corn stover mix composting, Bioresource Technology, 346, 126626, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2021.126626
46. Zhao, Y., Zhang, W., Devener, B.V., Bunch, T.D., Zhou, A., Isom, S. Clay, “In situ characterization of porcine fibroblasts in response to silver ions by Raman spectroscopy and liquid scanning transmission electron microscopy”, Talanta, 2022, 246 (15) 123522.