Super-radiant virus-like particles as targeted contrast agents for laser-guided surgery

PI将构建报告的最小光源，其发射类似于激光。它的亮度将比最先进的类似尺寸的荧光纳米颗粒高至少两个数量级。这样的纳米激光光源在指导和协助显微手术方面将是有价值的，特别是在大脑中。国际和平协会在指导和外展方面有着良好的记录。PI将继续这些活动，例如在拟议的研究期间指导一名暑期本科生。纳米激光器的小尺寸将使进入细胞之间的空间成为可能。高亮度将能够触发局部光化学反应。这样的远程光源可以光刺激单个突触，朝着神经系统之间的无线远程信息交换迈出了一步。这也可能产生化学物质，选择性地摧毁纳米激光颗粒靶向的癌细胞。纳米激光器是一种独特的分子结构，其材料支架是病毒壳。使用这种生物使能方法的优势是由于遗传的结构组织和自组装的分子精度，这是从简单的、良性的试剂自发发生的。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The PI will construct the smallest reported light source with emission similar to laser light. Its brightness will be at least two orders of magnitude higher than state of the art fluorescent nanoparticles of similar size. Such a nanoscopic laser source will be valuable in guiding and assisting microscopic surgery, specifically in the brain. The PI has a well-established record of mentoring and outreach. The PI will continue these activities, e.g. mentoring a summer undergraduate student during the proposed research. The small size of the nanolaser will enable accessing the spaces between cells. The high brightness will enable triggering local photochemical reactions. Such a remote light source could photo stimulate a single synapse, a step towards wireless remote information exchange between the nervous system. This could also produce chemical species which selectively destroy cancer cells targeted by the nanolaser particles. The nanolaser is a unique molecular structure, its material scaffold being a virus shell. The advantage of using such a bio-enabled approach is due to the inherited molecular precision in structural organization and from self-assembly, which occurs spontaneously from simple, benign reagents.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.