CAREER: DNA Transport Through Carbon Nanotubes

DNA通过碳纳米管的传输非技术概述这个由材料研究部生物材料项目颁发的职业奖项是研究分子通过小孔的过程。分子通过小孔或结构的过程在许多生物过程中起着关键作用。生物分子经常穿过核膜和细胞膜中的孔来影响细胞活动。这一转位过程在许多生物技术领域发挥着至关重要的作用，如药物输送和重组DNA组装。这一过程可以通过观察DNA分子在电场作用下通过明确定义的纳米结构的速度来实验研究。关于支配这一过程的基本物理过程，仍然存在相当大的争论。可以预见，从这些实验中获得的结果将为未来用于核酸分离、操作和潜在测序的设备的制造提供信息。PI将测量单链DNA分子通过单个碳纳米管的光学和电学传输速度。除了这个项目的研究部分，PI将使用聚合物物理和纳米制造的概念作为推广工作的模型，旨在增加不同群体的小学、大学和研究生对物理的参与。拟议的活动将显著改善纽约州北部高需求农村地区当地小学的物理教育。将教育计划整合到研究计划中的方法依赖于本科生和研究生在PI实验室的积极参与。大部分科学内容将使用DNA作为模型聚合物的例子来教授，这是一个丰富的教学工具，结合了生物学、物理学和材料科学的各个方面。小学教育将侧重于微制造和生物技术及其对日常生活的影响。在这个项目中，PI将通过光学和电学测量单链DNA分子通过单个碳纳米管的传输速度，从而帮助理解控制生物分子通过纳米孔传输的物理机制。为了解决有关运输过程的基本问题，需要将光学检测与电气检测相结合。当荧光DNA分子移动纳米管时，将被跟踪，同时测量通过纳米管的离子电流。PI将使用半导体和金属碳纳米管测量捕获率和通过时间，作为施加电压、DNA浓度、DNA长度和盐浓度的函数。调节碳纳米管上的电荷将使等电点能够确定电渗透在传输过程中的关键作用。该方法还将阐明纳米管手性和纳米管表面电荷对DNA传输过程的依赖关系。这个实验计划将提供对生物分子运输的定量理解，将软凝聚态物理、化学和生物学联系在一起。除了这一项目的研究部分外，国际和平研究所还将实施一项综合教育计划，以满足宾厄姆顿大学本科生和研究生课程的当前需要。教育计划的组成部分包括：(1)面向本科生生物学家的微型制造模块，旨在增加未被充分代表的群体对物理学的参与；(2)为物理学研究生提供创业培训；以及(3)向当地小学生提供物理演示的外联计划。

DNA Transport Through Carbon NanotubesNon-technical SummaryThis CAREER Award by the Biomaterials program in the Division of Materials Research is to study the passage of molecules through small pores. The passage of molecules through small pores or structures plays a key role in many biological processes. Biological molecules regularly cross through pores in nuclear and cellular membranes to effect cell activity. This translocation process plays an essential role in many areas of biotechnology, like drug delivery and assembling recombinant DNA. This process can be studied experimentally by observing the rate that DNA molecules travel through well-defined nano-structures under the application of an electric field. There is still considerable debate concerning the fundamental physical processes that govern this process. It is envisioned that the results obtained from these experiments will inform the fabrication of future devices for the separation, manipulation, and potential sequencing of nucleic acids. The PI will measure the rate at which single stranded DNA molecules are transported through individual carbon nanotubes, both optically and electrically. In parallel to the research portion of this project the PI will use the concepts of polymer physics and nanofabrication as models in outreach efforts aimed toward increasing participation in physics by different groups of elementary, college, and graduate students. The proposed activities would significantly improve the physics education in local elementary schools in high-need rural areas of upstate New York. The method for integrating the educational plan into the research program relies on the active participation of undergraduate and graduate students in the PI's laboratory. Much of the science content will be taught using DNA as an example of a model polymer, which is a rich pedagogical tool combining aspects of biology, physics, and material science. The elementary school education will have a focus on microfabrication and biotechnology and their impacts on everyday life.Technical SummaryIn this project the PI will optically and electrically measure the rate at which single stranded DNA molecules are transported through individual carbon nanotubes, thus aiding in the understanding of the physical mechanisms that govern biomolecule transport through nanopores. The combination of optical detection with electrical detection is required to address fundamental questions about the transport process. Fluorescent DNA molecules will be tracked as they translocate a nanotube while the ionic current through the nanotube is simultaneously measured. The PI will measure capture rates and transit times using semiconducting and metallic carbon nanotubes as a function of applied voltage, DNA concentration, DNA length, and salt concentration. Modulating the charge on the carbon nanotubes will enable the PI to determine the critical role of electroosmosis in the transport process. This approach will also elucidate the dependence of the nanotube chirality and the nanotube surface charge on the DNA transport process. This experimental program will provide a quantitative understanding of biomolecular transport that ties together soft condensed matter physics, chemistry, and biology. In addition to the research portion of this project the PI will implement an integrated education plan that addresses current needs in Binghamton University's undergraduate and graduate curriculum. The components of the educational plan include: (1) a microfabrication module for undergraduate biologists aimed at increasing participation of underrepresented groups in physics; (2) entrepreneurship training for graduate students in the physical sciences; and (3) an outreach program that provides physics demonstrations to local elementary school children.