Bioinspired Synthesis of Complex Molecular Systems

技术概述复杂系统是具有大量元素、构建块或代理的系统，能够相互之间以及与环境交换刺激。它们可以通过它们所做的事情、在没有中央组织权威的情况下展示组织--涌现，以及它们可能被分析或可能不被分析来识别。与复杂系统相比，复杂系统不能通过简单地孤立地分析它们的各个部件来理解，因此不能进行严格的设计和工程设计。这一研究项目旨在利用生物学和结构生物学原理指导复杂生物系统的出现，从而阐述设计和合成程序大分子(单分散、具有精确和指示的一级结构)所需的基本原理，这些大分子最终将出现在可预测的复杂分子系统中。在这些研究中，将使用自组装树枝和树枝状大分子作为构建块。这些构件将被用来(1)为发现新的一级结构和超分子组装体的文库而制定世代和解构设计策略；(2)详细的策略来预测参与特定复杂功能系统生成的一级结构；以及(3)阐明复杂分子系统出现的原理和机制，并产生它们的设计原则。非技术概述复杂系统的特征是适应、自我控制、自组织、记忆--它们是紧急和进化的，但不能被设计和工程设计。复杂系统的例子包括高速公路、互联网、生活、社会和政治组织、金融和经济系统、大多数生物系统、一些分子化学系统和选定的化学反应。这项研究将把生物学原理移植到合成分子系统中，阐明它们的组装机制，并导致复杂分子系统的设计和工程策略。从复杂分子系统中吸取的经验教训预计也适用于其他复杂系统。立即应用应该产生有效的战略，以解决太阳能转换和其他广泛和日常关注的技术问题。该计划将提供机制，在分子、生物和物理科学与其他复杂系统和社会关注的前沿和界面上教育本科生、研究生和博士后。这项研究还包括一些基础广泛的合作。

Technical SummaryA complex system is a system with a large number of elements, building blocks, or agents, capable of exchanging stimuli with one another and with the environment. They can be identified by what they do, display organization without a central organizing authority-emergence, and also by how they may or may not be analyzed. In contrast to complicated systems, complex systems cannot be understood by simply analyzing their individual parts in isolation and can therefore not be strictly designed and engineered. This research project aims to use biology and structural-biology principles guiding the emergence of complex biological systems so as to elaborate fundamental principles required for the design and synthesis of programmed macromolecules (monodisperse, with precise and instructed primary structure) that will ultimately emerge into predictable complex molecular systems. Self-assembling dendrons and dendrimers will be employed as building blocks in these investigations. These building blocks will be used to (1) elaborate generational and deconstruction-design strategies for the discovery of new libraries of primary structures and supramolecular assemblies; (2) elaborate strategies to predict the primary structure that mediates the generation of a specific complex functional system; and (3) elucidate the principles and mechanisms for the emergence of complex molecular systems and generate their design principles.Non-Technical SummaryComplex systems are characterized by adaptation, self-control, self-organization, memory -- they are emergent and evolving but cannot be designed and engineered. Examples of complex systems include highways, the internet, life, social and political organizations, financial and economic systems, most of the biological systems, some molecular chemical systems and selected chemical reactions. This research will transplant biological principles to synthetic molecular systems, elucidate their mechanism of assembly, and lead to design and engineering strategies for complex molecular systems. The lessons learned from complex molecular systems are expected to apply to other complex systems. Immediate applications should generate efficient strategies to solar energy conversion and other technological issues of broad and daily concern. This program will provide mechanisms to educate undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral students at the frontiers and interfaces of molecular, biological, and physical sciences with other complex systems and societal concerns. This research also includes a number of broadly based collaborations.