Automated Aqueous Two-Phase Extraction for Low Cost and Scalable Sorting of Chiral-pure Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes

Aqueous two phase (ATP) systems have been developed and patented by NIST for separation of chiral pure single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT). These methods have been successfully deployed at bench-scale in many laboratories around the world but have yet to be demonstrated in an automated, scalable manufacturing method. It is the intent of this Phase I project to license this IP from NIST and complete proof of concept of an automated ATP system that includes 1) modularity of surfactant and polymer screening, 2) temperature swing control, and 3) surfactant or wrapping removal. We will determine if ATP separation improves SWCNT sensor fluorescence and batch to batch variability. Upon success of Phase I, the Phase II project would use this automated ATP system to probe the design space of single chirality purification to develop most efficient protocols for a library of SWCNT types (starting with 6,5 and 7,5 for efficient sensor applications). At Zymosense Inc. we build SWCNT based probes for measuring the activity of enzymes in complex solutions. This automation platform will allow us to improve signal to noise, standardize batch to batch variability, and enable single well multiplexing.