CAREER: Self-Assembly of Functional Systems Within Live Cells

职业：活细胞内功能系统的自组装本提案的目标是开发一种全新的方法，通过活细胞内的自组装来构建异质功能系统。该方法是制造功能性无机纳米级组件，将它们微注射到活细胞中，并允许它们自组装成一个相互连接的结构。自组装是由生物分子（如多肽）和无机表面相互作用产生的特定共价键和超分子键驱动和编程的。智力优势：该项目发展了对生物分子/无机表面相互作用的基本理解，并开发了一种方法，使用分子自组装结构，由源自不相容制造工艺的部件自下而上制成。该项目开创了在活细胞内部构建人工结构的新范式，并为从内部表征活细胞提供了新的场所。这种能力对于扩展当前对生物学的理解和提供单细胞水平上研究生物学的新工具至关重要。更广泛的影响：该项目的主要目标之一是培养能够在电气工程和生物学之间进行研究的新一代工程师。这种培训通过他们在高中、本科和研究生阶段积极参与研究项目来提供，并通过开发实验纳米制造、自组装和细胞工程设计等新课程来增强。外展计划的主要重点之一是与华盛顿州的美洲原住民高中生建立联系，并鼓励他们积极参与研究。

CAREER: Self-assembly of functional systems within live cellsThe objective of this proposal is to develop a fundamentally new way to construct heterogeneous functional systems via self-assembly inside living cells. The approach is to fabricate functional inorganic nano-scale components, to microinject them into live cells, and to allow them to self-assemble into an interconnected structure. The self-assembly is driven by and programmed with specific covalent and supramolecular bonds resultant from the interaction of biomolecules (e.g. polypeptides) and inorganic surfaces. Intellectual merit: The project develops a fundamental understanding of biomolecule/inorganic surface interactions and develops a methodology to use the molecules to self-assemble structures, made from parts originating in incompatible fabrication processes, from the bottom-up. The project pioneers a new paradigm in constructing artificial structures inside live cells and provides a new venue for characterization of live cells from within. This ability is critical in expanding the current understanding of biology and providing a new tool for studying biology at the single cell level. Broader Impact: One of the main objectives of this project is to train a new generation of engineers that are capable of conducting research at the interface between electrical engineering and biology. This training is provided by their active participation in the research program at high school, undergraduate, and graduate levels and is augmented by development of new courses in experimental nanofabrication, self-assembly, and engineering design of cells. One of the main focuses of the outreach program is to connect with the Native American high school students of the State of Washington and to encourage their active participation in research.