NIRT: Bio-Nano-Robotic Systems Using Viral Protein Nano Motors

该项目将研究基于蛋白质的纳米马达和纳米机器人的开发。其目标是开发新的和革命性的生物分子机器组件，可以组装并形成多自由度的纳米器件，这些器件将能够施加力并操纵微观世界中的物体，将信息从纳米转移到宏观世界，并且还能够在纳米环境中旅行。这些机器预计将是高效的，经济的大规模生产，工作在很少的监督和可控。我们的愿景是，这种超微型机器人系统和纳米机械装置将成为未来制造业、生物医学和行星应用的生物分子机电硬件。一些蛋白质，由于其结构特征和物理化学性质，构成了这种作用的潜在候选者。本项目的具体目标是：（1）鉴定可用作纳米/微型机器和机制中的马达的蛋白质。 研究的重点将是病毒蛋白质的机械特性，以打开或关闭取决于环境的pH值水平。因此，一种新的，强大的，线性的生物分子驱动器类型，病毒蛋白质线性（VPL）电机。将研究各种病毒蛋白质，并从中产生不同的VPL马达。 (2)开发动态模型和逼真的模拟/动画，以准确预测拟议的VPL电机的性能。 (3)进行一系列的生物分子实验来证明所提出的VPL马达概念的有效性。(4)研究蛋白质马达与其他生物分子组件（如DNA接头和碳纳米管刚性连接）的界面，以形成由VPL马达驱动的复杂、多自由度的机器和机器人。该项目的教育、更广泛的影响和推广活动包括：（1）开发一个新的跨部门纳米机器设计课程;（2）启动本科生研究;（3）与新泽西科技高中建立纳米技术合作项目，以吸引该领域的新生;（4）组织生物纳米机器人研讨会和期刊特刊;（5）开发和维护生物纳米机器人系统网页;（6）开展纳米技术领域的国际合作活动。

This project will study the development of protein-based nano-motors and nano-robots. The goal is to develop novel and revolutionary biomolecular machine components that can be assembled and form multi-degree of freedom nanodevices that will be able to apply forces and manipulate objects in the nanoworld, transfer information from the nano to the macro world and also be able to travel in the nanoenvironment. These machines are expected to be highly efficient, economical in mass production, work under little supervision and be controllable. The vision is that such ultra-miniature robotic systems and nano-mechanical devices will be the biomolecular electro-mechanical hardware of future manufacturing, biomedical and planetary applications. Some proteins, due to their structural characteristics and physicochemical properties constitute potential candidates for this role. The specific aims of this project are: (1) To identify proteins that can be used as motors in nano/micro machines and mechanisms. The focus of the study will be on the mechanical properties of viral proteins to open or close depending on the pH level of environment. Thus, a new, powerful, linear biomolecular actuator type is obtained,Viral Protein Linear (VPL) motor. Various viral proteins will be studied and from them different VPL motors will be produced. (2) To develop dynamic models and realistic simulations/animations to accurately predict the performance of the proposed VPL motors. (3) To perform a series of biomolecular experiments to demonstrate the validity of the proposed concept of VPL motors. (4) To study the interface of the proposed protein motors with other biomolecular components such as DNA joints and carbon-nanotube rigid links so that complex, multi-degree of freedom machines and robots powered by the VPL motors are formed.The educational, broader impact and outreach activities of this project are: (1) The development of a new, inter-departmental course on the design of nano-machines; (2) The initiation of undergraduate students in research; (3) The establishment of collaborative projects on nano-technology with the science and technology high schools of New Jersey with the objective to attract new students in this field; (4) The organization of symposia and journal special issues on bio-nano-robotics; (5) The development and maintenance of a webpage on bio-nano-robotic systems; and (6) The establishment of international collaborative activities in the area of nano-technology.