CAREER: DNA Directed Self-Assembly of Multicomponent Nanoarchitectures

摘要：本课题旨在通过分子定向自组装，开发高效构建功能纳米材料的方法。具体来说，PI建议开发方法，使用自组装的DNA纳米结构作为支架，将纳米粒子（NPs）和纳米线（NWs）组织成合理设计的具有可调物理性质的集成体。设计DNA纳米支架正在成为制造复杂的纳米图案的首选材料，这些纳米图案既有对称的，也有不对称的，甚至是非周期结构的。当NPs和NWs被组织成由DNA纳米支架定义的定义良好的几何形状时，可以产生频率选择响应，这些响应可以作为其高阶结构的功能进行调谐，用于广泛的技术应用，从纳米级波导到小型化的生物电子传感设备。DNA纳米支架与功能纳米材料的集成还没有系统的探索。在这个新兴的年轻领域，机遇和挑战并存。解决这些紧迫问题需要协同努力。智力优势：从纳米级构建块（如NPs和NWs）中合理定义的纳米结构的程序化和高效自组装是目前纳米技术的突出挑战之一。本项目的主要研究目标是证明利用DNA纳米技术可以实现合理设计的多组分纳米结构的编码自组装。PI旨在全面解决开发DNA纳米结构作为NP/NW集成的空间可寻址模板的最紧迫问题。这些问题包括：(i)优化控制NP/NW在DNA超晶格上定向吸附过程中的非特异性聚集；（ii）将DNA的编程能力扩展到设计对称性降低、复杂性增加的二维纳米结构；（iii）设计NP/NW集成电路，其整体物理特性可以作为NP/NW尺寸和晶格几何形状的函数进行调整；（iv）以合理定义的方式制造NP/NW集成电路，并在构建纳米电子和光学器件中具有独特的应用。更广泛的影响：提出的DNA定向自组装路线将潜在地为基于纳米电子组件、纳米级光学网络和高密度和可寻址传感器阵列的未来集成电路的生产提供革命性的能力。这一建议的教育影响分为三个部分。i) PI提出了一种新颖实用的机制，以利用基于DNA的纳米生物技术研究向高中生的延伸。PIs实验室和钱德勒高中建立了合作伙伴关系，通过将基于dna的纳米生物技术的有趣和令人兴奋的科学实验模块带给大量的高中生，并为教师提供课堂支持，来支持科学传播。如果成功，这项外展活动将扩展到更多的高中生群体。ii) PI认为当前本科教育存在的问题之一是学生没有在早期接触到最前沿的研究课题。这最终影响了学生进入研究生院从事科学研究的热情。因此，PI建议为本科生和研究生开设纳米生物技术课程，并向他们全面介绍这一新领域的令人兴奋的发展。iii) PI认为，一个领域的进步不仅取决于创造新想法的能力，还取决于吸引更多人从事该领域工作的能力。目前，创造自组装DNA纳米结构的方法只能由世界上少数人完成。这在一定程度上是由于本研究课题的多学科性质。DNA纳米技术的影响可以通过将拟议的研究与互补的知识转移机制相结合来充分发挥其潜力。为此，PI建议编写一本基于网络的手册，以宣传基于dna的纳米生物技术研究中使用的协议和方法。

ABSTRACTCareer: DNA Directed Self-assembly of Multicomponent NanoarchitecturesProject SummaryThis proposal aims to develop highly effective methods for constructing functional nanomaterials by directed molecular self-assembly. Specifically, the PI proposes to develop methods to use self-assembled DNA nanoarchitectures as scaffolds to organize Nanoparticles (NPs) and Nanowires (NWs) into rationally designed ensembles with tunable physical properties. Designer DNA nanoscaffolds are emerging as the material of choice for creating sophisticated nanopatterns with both symmetric and asymmetric or even aperiodic structures. NPs and NWs, when organized into well-defined geometries defined by DNA nanoscaffolds, can produce frequency-selective responses that can be tuned as a function of their higherorder structure for a broad range of technological applications, ranging from nanoscale waveguides to miniaturized bio-electronic sensing devices. The integration of DNA nanoscaffolds with functional nanomaterials has not been systematically explored. Both opportunities and challenges exist in this emerging young field. Synergetic efforts are needed to address these pressing issues.Intellectual merit:The programmed and efficient self-assembly of rationally defined nanoarchitectures from nanoscale building blocks, such as NPs and NWs is presently one of the outstanding challenges in nanotechnology. The main research goal of this project is to demonstrate that encoded self-assembly of rationally designed multicomponent nanostructures can be achieved using DNA nanotechnology. The PI aims to comprehensively address the most pressing issues in developing DNA nano-architectures as spatially addressable templates for NP/NW ensembles. These issues include: (i) optimizing control over nonspecific aggregation during the site-directed adsorption of NP/NW onto DNA superlattices; (ii) extending the programming capacity of DNA toward the design of 2D nanostructures of reduced symmetry and increased complexity; (iii) designing NP/NW ensembles whose collective physical properties can be tuned as a function of the NP/NW dimensions and lattice geometry, and (iv) fabricating NP/NW ensembles in a rationally defined manner with unique applications in constructing nanoelectronic and optical devices.Broader impact:The proposed DNA directed self-assembly routes will potentially provide revolutionary capabilities in production of future integrated circuits based on nanoelectronics assemblies, nanoscale optical networks, and high-density and addressable sensor arrays.The educational impact of this proposal is articulated in three parts. i) The PI proposes a novel and practical mechanism to leverage the outreach of DNA based nanobiotechnology research to high school students. A partnership has been established between the PIs lab and Chandler High School to support science dissemination by bringing fun and exciting scientific experimental modules in DNA-based nanobiotechnology to a large number of high school students and providing classroom support to teachers. If successful, this outreach activity will be extended to a larger group of high school students. ii) The PI believes that one of the problems in current undergraduate education is that the students are not exposed to the cutting edge research topics in an earlier stage. This eventually affects the students enthusiasm to attend graduate school to do science. Therefore, the PI proposes to bring a currently taught class in nanobiotechnology to both undergraduate and graduate students and comprehensively introduce exciting developments in this novel field to them. iii) The PI believes that the advancements of a field not only depends on the ability to create new ideas, it will also depend on the ability to attract more people to work on it. At present, the methodologies for creating self-assembled DNA nanostructures can only be performed by a handful of people worldwide. This is, in part, due to the multidisciplinary nature of this research topic. The impact of DNA nanotechnology can be brought to its full potential by integrating the proposed research with a complementary knowledge transfer mechanism. For this purpose, the PI proposes to write a web-based handbook to publicize the protocols and methods used in DNA-based nanobiotechnology research.