CAREER: Integrating DNA and Inorganic Surfaces for Functional Materials Design

这项学院早期职业发展(Career)基金的目标是对DNA功能化表面的结构和性质有一个基本的了解，并制定规则，以促进生物传感器新功能材料的设计，并增强我们控制和指导材料组装过程的能力。用DNA功能化的表面可用于生物传感或生物、有机和无机部分的自组装。DNA表面的密度和结构、表面材料和曲率的选择以及表面固定化的类型都会显著影响DNA功能化表面的性质和DNA基材料的组装行为。本研究将利用分子模拟技术对DNA结构、表面设计和DNA功能化表面性质之间的关系进行理论描述，如果研究成功，将促进DNA微阵列和生物传感器材料、DNA靶向药物传递、DNA纳米材料组装和DNA定向表面组装和图案化的进展。拟议的研究计划将与教育活动紧密结合，并将为高中、研究生和本科生提供与DNA和功能表面相关的学科的新教育机会。这项研究的结果将被整合到一门关于纳米级模拟和建模的新课程中。该项目包括一个为高中生设计材料的外展模块。

The objective of this Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) grant is to develop a fundamental understanding of the structure and properties of DNA-functionalized surfaces and to formulate rules that will facilitate the design of new functional materials for biosensors and enhance our ability to control and direct the materials assembly processes. Surfaces functionalized with DNA are used for biosensing or for the self-assembly of biological, organic and inorganic moieties. DNA density and structure on the surface, choice of surface material and curvature, and type of surface immobilization can significantly influence the properties of DNA-functionalized surface and the behavior of DNA-based material assembly. This study will utilize molecular modeling techniques to formulate a theoretical description of the correlation between DNA structure, surface design and properties of DNA-functionalized surfaces.If successful, the research will facilitate progress in materials for DNA microarrays and biosensors, DNA based targeted drug delivery, DNA nanomaterials assembly, and DNA directed surface assembly and patterning. The proposed research program will be closely integrated with the educational activities and will provide new education opportunities in disciplines related to DNA and functional surfaces for high school, graduate and undergraduate students. The results from this research will be integrated into a new course addressing nanoscale simulations and modeling. This project includes an outreach module on materials design for high and middle school students.