CAREER: Fundamental Investigation and Thermal-Electrical Control of Ion, Fluid, and Biomolecular Transport through Nanochannels

奖项摘要：职业：离子、流体和生物分子通过纳米通道传输的基础研究和热电控制纳米流体学，研究高度受限的纳米环境下离子、流体和分子的行为，在单分子传感和操作方面显示出巨大的潜力，这对高通量药物筛选具有不可估量的价值。然而，纳米流体装置的设计和应用需要对离子、流体和分子通过纳米通道的传输有完整的理解和控制策略，在纳米通道中，由于纳米限制会出现新的现象。目前，我们对纳米流体学的认识还很不全面，因为纳米流体学还处于起步阶段。该研究计划的智力优势在于，利用分子动力学模拟和实验测量，推进纳米流体学的基础研究，并开发热和电控制策略来操纵离子、流体和分子通过纳米通道的传输。该研究不仅将解决纳米通道中离子分布和气泡形成等基本问题，而且还将开发用于单分子捕获和研究的微器件。更广泛的影响自然包括在档案期刊上传播科学相关的发现，但拟议工作的几个重要特征将区分这个项目的深远影响。拟议的研究计划包括综合研究、教育和推广活动，涉及研究生和本科生，所获得的知识将用于两门课程的课堂教学，“微/纳米机电系统”和“纳米科学与工程导论”。该项目还将通过暑期研究项目为本科生提供研究机会。K-12学生将受益于拟议的教育活动，如服务学习的发展和PI参与的夏季男孩和女孩科学营。菲斯克大学（Fisk University）是一所历史悠久的黑人大学，计划在该校举办的客座讲座和研讨会将扩大对少数族裔学生的影响。分子动力学代码将通过范德比尔特大学高级计算研究与教育中心（ACCRE）广泛传播。

AWARD ABSTRACT:CAREER: Fundamental Investigation and Thermal-Electrical Control of Ion, Fluid, and Biomolecular Transport through NanochannelsNanofluidics, the study of ion, fluid, and molecular behavior in a highly confined nano-environment, shows great potential in single molecular sensing and manipulation, which could be invaluable for high throughput drug screening. The design and application of nanofluidic devices, however, require complete understanding of, and control strategies for ion, fluid, and molecular transport through nanochannels, where novel phenomena occur because of nano-confinement. At present, our knowledge of nanofluidics is far from complete since nanofluidics is still in its infancy. The intellectual merit of the proposed research program is the advancement of nanofluidics with fundamental studies using molecular dynamics simulations and experimental measurements, and the development of thermal and electrical control strategies to manipulate ion, fluid, and molecular transport through nanochannels. The research will not only address fundamental issues such as ion distribution and bubble formation in nanochannels, but also develop microdevices for single molecule trapping and investigation.The broader impacts will naturally include dissemination of scientifically relevant discoveries in archival journals, but several important features of the proposed work will distinguish the far-reaching impacts of this project. The proposed research program includes integrated research, education, and outreach activities, which involve both graduate and undergraduate students, and the acquired knowledge will be used in the classroom instruction for two courses, "Micro/NanoElectromechanical Systems" and "Introduction to Nanoscience and Engineering." This project will also provide research opportunities to undergraduate students through summer research programs. K-12 students will benefit from the proposed educational activities such as development of service learning and the PI's involvement in summer boys and girls science camps. The planned guest lectures and seminars at Fisk University, a historically black university, will extend the impact to minority students. The molecular dynamics code will be broadly disseminated through Vanderbilt's Advanced Computing Center for Research & Education (ACCRE).