CAREER: Metal-mediated Supramolecular Materials in Water: Towards Programmable Molecular Complexity with DNA-delivery Functions

这一无机化学、生物无机化学和金属有机化学项目的职业奖支持德克萨斯大学埃尔帕索分校的Juan C.Noveron教授研究水中金属脂质络合物的超分子化学。将对分子结构进行系统的修改，以建立结构-功能关系。我们将用X射线光谱和显微技术研究氧化还原反应和配体交换反应在水中引起的超分子相变。我们将研究用金属脂类络合物包裹5~15kBP的DNA质粒，并测定DNA缩合物的结构和热力学稳定性。固有的荧光金属脂质络合物将被用来研究DNA缩合的机制和评估细胞内的递送。持续参与埃尔帕索地区一所中学和一所高中的科学课程，将在获奖期间每月提供一次NSF的同行主导的团队学习(PLTL)活动。在这些活动中，将培养初中本科生成为初中生和高中生的导师。每年将开设一次以理科和英语写作为重点的高年级班。一部关于本科生STEM研究生的电视纪录片将与该大学的制作单位合作开发。分子在水中具有自组织行为的设计可能会为材料提供在新兴技术中有用的应用，并最终应用于医学。具有DNA递送功能的金属介导型超分子载体可能会在生物技术工具以及最终的基因疫苗方面发挥重要作用。在水中利用氧化还原和配体引发的超分子相变将为未来细胞内激活的递送系统铺平道路。

This CAREER award in the Inorganic, Bioinorganic and Organometallic Chemistry program supports research by Professor Juan C. Noveron at the University of Texas at El Paso to investigate the supramolecular chemistry of metallo-lipid complexes in water. Systematic modifications in the molecular structure will be carried out to establish structure-function relationships. Supramolecular phase transitions in water induced by redox- and ligand-exchange reactions will be studied using X-ray spectroscopy and microscopy methods. Encapsulation of DNA plasmids of 5 to 15 Kbp with the metallo-lipid complexes will be investigated, and the structure and thermodynamic stability of DNA-condensates will be determined. Intrinsically fluorescent metallo-lipid complexes will be used to study the mechanism of DNA-condensation and to assess intracellular delivery. A sustained engagement with science classes of a middle school and a high school from the El Paso area will offer NSF's Peer-Led-Team-Learning (PLTL) activities once a month for the duration of the award. Undergraduate students in their middle years will be trained to become mentors to the middle and high school students during these activities. An upper division class focused on science and on english composition will be offered once a year. The production of a TV documentary about undergraduate STEM research student will be developed in collaboration with the University's production unit.The design of molecules with self-organized behavior in water can potentially afford materials with useful applications in emerging technologies and eventually medicine. Metal-mediated supramolecular vehicles designed with DNA-delivery functions may play important roles as biotechnology tools and eventually gene vaccines. The use of redox- and ligand-triggered supramolecular phase transitions in water will pave the way to intracellularly activated delivery systems in the future.