DNA Directed Synthesis of Fluorescent Silver Clusters

0853692佩蒂研究小银簇如何与DNA相互作用。总体目标是通过改变DNA序列来控制这些强发射金属物种的荧光光谱。这些发色团在几个方面具有创新性。首先，由于核碱基控制簇的形成，具有不同发射光谱的发色团的制备简单而廉价。其次，DNA簇复合物具有生物相容性，因为它们被DNA包裹，而且体积小。第三，该簇具有良好的光谱特性，可用于生物环境的成像。Dickson教授在高灵敏度光谱学和DNA阵列领域的专业知识对于通过高通量平行筛选广泛的序列来确定最佳序列至关重要。佩蒂教授在DNA热力学和结构方面的背景将成为进一步研究反应条件对簇的形成和光谱影响的基础。银- dna缀合物的荧光光物理参数将显示碱基序列和溶液环境如何影响dna -银簇加合物。该项目将培养本科生和研究生进行与生物光子学相关的新研究。弗曼大学的本科项目和佐治亚理工学院的研究生项目之间建立的富有成效的合作将为学习和教学提供多种机会。学生将学习组织和传播他们的研究活动的成果，通过在专业会议上的演讲和通过在主要文献中发表。更广泛的影响将在课堂上产生，因为新的仪器和实验将被整合到物理化学和纳米科学实验室中。博士后将在一个以本科为重点的机构接受未来教师生涯的指导。

0853692Petty Investigate how small silver clusters interact with DNA. The overall goal is to control the fluorescence spectra of these strongly emitting metal species by altering the DNA sequence. These chromophores are innovative in several respects. First, chromophores with different emission spectra are straightforward and inexpensive to prepare because the nucleobases control cluster formation. Second, the DNA-clusters complexes are biocompatible due to their encapsulation by DNA and due to their small size. Third, the clusters have favorable spectroscopic properties for imaging in biological environments. The expertise of Professor Dickson in the areas of high-sensitivity spectroscopy and DNA arrays will be critical for identifying the optimal sequences via high-throughput parallel screening of a comprehensive range of sequences. Professor Petty's background in DNA thermodynamics and structure will be the basis of the further scrutiny of the effect of reaction conditions on the formation and spectra of the clusters. The fluorescence photophysical parameters of the silver-DNA conjugates will show how both the base sequence and the solution environment influence the DNA-silver cluster adducts. This project will develop undergraduate and graduate students by conducting novel research related to biophotonics. The established and productive collaboration between the undergraduate program at Furman and the graduate program at Georgia Tech will provide multiple opportunities for learning and teaching. The students will learn to organize and disseminate the outcomes of their research activities through presentations at professional meetings and through publication in the primary literature. A wider impact will be in the classroom, as the new instruments and experiments will be integrated into the physical chemistry and nanoscience laboratories. A postdoctoral associate will be mentored for a future faculty career at an undergraduate-focused institution.