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

NIRT：使用病毒蛋白纳米电机的生物纳米机器人系统

• 批准号: 0422724
• 负责人: Constantinos Mavroidis
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Northeastern University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2004
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2004-04-01 至 2008-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0422724&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: NIRT; Bio; Nano; Robotic; Systems

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.

该项目将研究基于蛋白质的纳米电机和纳米机器人的开发。目标是开发新颖且革命性的生物分子机器组件，这些组件可以组装并形成多自由度纳米器件，这些器件将能够在纳米世界中施加力并操纵物体，将信息从纳米世界传输到宏观世界，并且能够在纳米环境中旅行。这些机器预计在大规模生产中效率高、经济、在很少的监督下工作并且可控。我们的愿景是，此类超微型机器人系统和纳米机械设备将成为未来制造、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理化性质而成为该作用的潜在候选者。该项目的具体目标是：（1）识别可用作纳米/微米机器和机构中的马达的蛋白质。 研究的重点是病毒蛋白根据环境 pH 值打开或关闭的机械特性。因此，获得了一种新型、强大的线性生物分子驱动器类型，即病毒蛋白线性（VPL）电机。我们将研究各种病毒蛋白，并从中生产出不同的 VPL 发动机。 (2) 开发动态模型和真实模拟/动画，以准确预测所提出的 VPL 电机的性能。 (3) 进行一系列生物分子实验来证明所提出的VPL电机概念的有效性。 (4) 研究所提出的蛋白质马达与其他生物分子组件（例如 DNA 接头和碳纳米管刚性连接）的界面，从而形成由 VPL 马达驱动的复杂、多自由度机器和机器人。该项目的教育、更广泛的影响和推广活动是：（1）开发关于纳米机器设计的新的跨部门课程； （2）本科生科研的启动； (3) 与新泽西州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) 生物纳米机器人系统网页的开发和维护； (6) 建立纳米技术领域的国际合作活动。