EFRI 2-DARE: Two-dimensional nanopores with electro-optical control for next generation biotechnological applications

二维纳米孔可用于通过记录分子穿过纳米孔时离子电流和光子发射的变化来对DNA分子进行测序。亚纳米厚膜中纳米孔的电子和光学性质将被研究，目的是了解纳米孔与纳米尺寸的生物材料（如DNA，蛋白质和病毒）以及非生物材料（如纳米颗粒和纳米棒形金属）的相互作用。使用技术的组合，纳米孔的大小和组成将被专门调整，以优化对特定分析物的灵敏度。独立的二维原子薄膜中的超薄孔预计将产生最佳的光学和电信号，这些信号将在特定的纳米颗粒穿过纳米孔时对其进行指纹识别。拟议的研究将促进不同领域的知识和理解，并为国家工程院的一些重大挑战做出贡献，包括工程科学发现工具，工程更好的药物和先进的健康信息学。 社会影响包括改善在工程和科学方面代表性不足的学生的保留情况，K-12学生接触工程和科学方面的最先进技术，促进妇女参与物理学，并培训学生为生物学，材料科学和物理学界面的技术挑战做出终身贡献。石墨烯之外的二维材料，如过渡金属二硫属化物，具有令人兴奋的光学，催化，电子和化学性质。当这些层包含扩展的空位并形成纳米级的纳米孔时，预计会出现新的和前所未有的物理化学现象。与其他固态纳米孔相比，这些新型二维材料在纳米颗粒检测、过滤（分离）和分析中的益处包括改善信噪比、在高带宽下操作（即，亚微秒时间分辨率），以及纳米孔周边可以被赋予特定的且潜在可逆的边缘/表面功能性的前景。例如，纳米孔的光学活化和特定的化学功能化打开了增强颗粒控制的可能性。的易位率。该项目将针对i）二维材料的同质/异质结构中纳米孔的受控合成和表征，ii）DNA，蛋白质和细菌在特定光波长和光功率下的捕获，片段化和易位，iii）激光诱导的纳米孔活化以可逆地控制易位动力学以及天然纳米孔荧光信号以监测易位事件，iv）用于DNA、生物颗粒分析和纳米颗粒定量的原型易位平台的制造，以及v）具有设计的边缘功能的纳米孔的捕获/易位机制的阐明。

Two-dimensional nanopores can be used to sequence DNA molecules by recording the variations in ionic current and photon emission as the molecules thread through the nanopore. The electronic and optical properties of nanopores in sub-nanometer thick films will be investigated with the goals to understand the nanopore interaction with nanometer-sized biological materials, such as DNA, proteins, and viruses, as well as non-biological materials, such as nanoparticles and nanorod-shaped metals. Using a combination of techniques, the nanopore size and composition will be specifically tuned to optimize sensitivity to a particular analyte. Ultrathin pores in freestanding two-dimensional atomically thin membranes are expected to yield optimal optical and electrical signals that will fingerprint specific nanoparticles as they move through the nanopore. The proposed research will advance knowledge and understanding across different fields and contribute to a number of National Academy of Engineering Grand Challenges, including Engineering the Tools of Scientific Discovery, and Engineering Better Medicines and Advance Health Informatics. Societal impacts include improvement of underrepresented student retention in engineering and science, exposure of K-12 students to state-of-the-art techniques in engineering and science, promoting the participation of women in physics, and training students to make lifelong contributions to technology challenges at the interface of biology, materials science and physics. Two-dimensional materials beyond graphene, such as transition metal dichalcogenides, possess exciting optical, catalytic, electronic and chemical properties. When these layers contain extended vacancies and form nanoscale nanopores, new and unprecedented physicochemical phenomena are expected. Compared to other solid state nanopores, the benefits of these novel two-dimensional materials in nanoparticle detection, filtration (separation) and analysis, include the potential for improved signal-to-noise ratio, operation at high bandwidths (i.e., sub-microsecond temporal resolution), and the prospect that nanopore perimeters can be bestowed with specific, and potentially reversible, edge/surface functionalities. For example, the optical activation and specific chemical functionalization of nanopores opens the possibility of enhanced control of the particle?s translocation rates. The project will target i) the controlled synthesis and characterization of nanopores in homo/heterostructures of two-dimensional materials, ii) the trapping, fragmentation and translocation of DNA, proteins, and bacteria at specific optical wavelengths and optical powers, iii) laser-induced nanopore activation to reversibly control translocation dynamics as well as the native nanopore fluorescence signal to monitor translocation events, iv) the fabrication of prototype translocation platforms for DNA, bioparticulate analysis, and nanoparticle quantification, and v) the elucidation of the trapping/translocation mechanisms for nanopores with designed edge functionalities.