NER: Integration of Nanoscale Photonics with Silicon MEMS Injector for Studies on the Embryonic Development Through Calibrated Genetic Perturbation

这项研究的目的是将纳米级光子科学和工程与硅上的微机电系统（MEMS）相结合，以系统地研究基因功能，并了解对发育和疾病至关重要的新分子机制。拟议的调查的目的是确定，通过高通量RNA干扰（RNAi）显微注射自组装的果蝇胚胎，新的蛋白质，已推断出从果蝇基因组序列的功能。 主要研究内容包括：（1）设计并制作了集成硅MEMS注入器的二维光子晶体力传感器。力显微镜是由同一个注射器与集成的纳米光子位移传感器的基础上悬浮在微悬臂梁上的光子晶体。(2)流体自组装的数值和纳米光学表征，使大规模并行RNAi显微注射成为可能。智力优势：所提出的纳米级设备和系统架构将可扩展到测试和理解其他模型生物和细胞的发展机制。最终目标是开发纳米级工程活性基质，使生物体（胚胎、细胞和组织）发育具有可控的遗传特征。该研究的更广泛影响使大规模并行的基础遗传学研究，蛋白质组学以及快速和小型化的药物发现工作成为可能。更广泛的影响：该研究计划还与NSF NER的核心教育计划协同作用，将纳米级光子学，微纳器件，计算和生物化学整合到从单分子到细胞和组织的基础生物学研究中，并应用于改善诊断传感和成像模式。由此产生的研究和教育进程、材料和技术将随时可供使用并广泛传播。

The objective of this research is to integrate nano-scale photonic science and engineering with microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) on silicon to systematically study gene functions and to understand new molecular mechanisms that are important for development and disease. The proposed investigations are aimed at identifying, through high-throughput RNA-interference (RNAi) microinjection on self-assembled Drosophila embryos, the functions of the new proteins that have been inferred from the Drosophila genome sequence. The approaches are: (1) Design and fabrication of 2-D photonic crystal based force sensor integrated with a silicon MEMS injector. The force microscopy is provided by the same injector with an integrated nano-photonic displacement sensor based on photonic crystals suspended on micro-cantilevers. (2) Numerical and nano-optical characterization of fluidic self-assembly enabling massively parallel RNAi microinjection. Intellectual Merit:The proposed nanoscale devices and system architecture will be extendable to testing and understanding the mechanics of development of other model organisms and cells. The ultimate goal is the development of nano-scale engineering-active substrates tailoring organism (embryos, cells and tissues) development with controllable genetic characteristics. The broader impact of the research enables massively parallel fundamental genetics research, proteomics, and rapid and miniaturized drug discovery efforts. Broader Impact:The research plan is also synergized with the core educational initiative of NSF NER on integrating nanoscale photonics, micro-nano devices, computing and biochemistry into fundamental biological studies at levels ranging from single molecules, to cells, and tissues, with applications to improve diagnostic sensing and imaging modalities. The resulting research and educational processes, materials and technologies will be readily accessible and widely disseminated.