DMREF - Biologically Interfaced Single Layer Devices

非技术描述：在生物学中，信号从一个生物分子传递到另一个生物分子，例如在抗原-抗体相互作用中，或在蛋白质和DNA之间，这种功能是通过它们分子结构之间的分子相互作用来传递的。在每种情况下，其结果都表现为生命功能的一部分。同样，在本项目中，将设计和改造具有短氨基酸序列的肽（小蛋白质），以诱导信号转导成单原子层固体。因此，由这些薄固体制成的设备的功能将通过精心设计的肽序列进行监测和控制。由于该设备将与肽连接，它们可以与未来的生物传感器和生物能量学设备集成。该项目将在分子生物学、遗传学、生物化学、物理学、数学和工程学等不同科学领域的交叉点上进行。因此，这项研究有望导致新的实验和计算工具的发展，这将使混合生物/固体设备的设计成为可能，创造一种共同的科学语言，可以在这些不同和融合的领域中共同使用。该项目将为下一代有创造力的科学家提供研究培训机会，他们将成为跨学科工程师和技术专家的独特成员，为延续创造力的传统做出贡献，这是美国创新的标志。该项目的变革性质也将导致先进的知识产权和专利，增强美国在全球平台上的竞争优势。技术描述：这个项目的关键原因是生物如何在分子尺度上与人造固体相互作用的知识的不足。尽管对这一重大课题进行了大量的研究，但迄今为止，对这一问题的认识还远远不够全面。这些知识对于将设备与生活系统集成至关重要，例如，用于未来的健康监测。基于研究人员的集体专业知识和设施，该项目通过三个主要创新解决了这些限制：通过肽对简单晶体（如单原子层材料）的编码识别；通过最先进的预测计算建模和遗传学设计功能部件；最后是混合设备的先进测试平台演示。使用简单的生物分子（即工程肽）控制材料的内在特性，将通过综合实验和计算方法迭代和串联工作，在三个任务领域中进行：在单原子层固体上形成多肽的自组织结构（任务1），具有生物分子编码（任务2）诱导的界面结构和物理性质（通过先进的计算模型预测），并通过试验台测量（任务3）进行查询，例如在场效应晶体管中。因此，整个工作将建立工程固体的生物编码物理特性的基础。最后，生物/固体界面也类似于一个著名的技术问题，即80年代开发的化合物半导体中的相干界面，使今天的电子产品（笔记本电脑，手机等）成为可能。可以想象，通过这个项目，更全面地了解生物/纳米界面结构的复杂性，不同肽序列的分子识别特征，以及二维材料在界面上的物理变化，人们可以在生物世界和未来固态器件的体内整合方面取得重大进展，具有前所未有的功能。

NON-TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: In biology, a signal is passed from one biomolecule to another, such as in antigen-antibody interactions, or between a protein and DNA, and this function is transmitted via molecular interactions between their molecular structures. The result, in each case, is manifested as part of life's function. Similarly, in this project, peptides (small proteins) with short amino acid sequences will be designed and engineered to induce signal transduction into single atomic layer solids. As a consequence, the functions of the devices made from these thin solids will be monitored and controlled by carefully designed peptide sequences. Since the devices will be interfaced with peptides, they could be integrated with biosensors and bioenergetics devices of the future. The project will be executed at the cross-sections of diverse scientific fields such as molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry, physics, mathematics and engineering. The research, therefore, is expected to result in the development of novel experimental and computational tools that will enable the design of hybrid bio/solid devices, creating a common scientific language that could be used collectively in these diverse and convergent fields. The project will establish research training opportunities for the next generation of creative scientists who will be unique members of interdisciplinary engineers and technologists contributing to the continuing tradition of creativity, the hallmark of innovation in the USA. The transformative nature of the project will also lead to advanced intellectual properties and patents, enhancing the competitive edge of the USA at the global platform.TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: The key reason for this project is the shortcoming of knowledge of how biology interacts with man-made solids at the molecular scale. Despite numerous studies in this major topic, the understanding has so far been far from complete. This knowledge is essential to integrate devices with living systems, for example, for future health monitoring. Based on the collective expertise and facilities of the investigators, the project addresses these limitations by three major innovations: coded recognition of simple crystals, such as single atomic layer materials, by peptides; designed functional moieties via state-of-the-art predictive computational modeling and genetics; and, finally, advanced test-bed demonstrations of hybrid devices. Controlling the intrinsic properties of materials using simple biomolecules, i.e., engineered peptides, will be carried out by integrated experimental and computational approaches working iteratively and in tandem, in three Task Areas: Formation of self-organized structures of peptides on single atomic layer solids (Task-1), with interface structures and physical properties (predicted by advanced computational modeling) induced by biomolecular coding (Task-2), and interrogated by test-bed measurements (Task-3), for example in a field effect transistor. The overall work, therefore, will establish the foundations of biologically-coded physical properties of engineered solids. Finally, the bio/solid interfaces are also analogous to a famous technological problem, namely coherent interfaces in compound semiconductors developed during the 80s that enabled today's electronics (lap-top computers, cell phones, etc.,). It is conceivable that through this project a more complete understanding of the intricacies of the bio/nano interface structures, molecular recognition characteristics of different peptide sequences, and physical changes in the 2D materials across the interfaces, one can make major strides in the in vivo integration of the worlds of biology and solid-state devices of the future with unprecedented functionalities.