RUI-Collaborative Research-Electrokinetic Transport and Electric Field Control of Ion Motion through the Interior of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

RUI-合作研究-单壁碳纳米管内部离子运动的电动输运和电场控制

• 批准号: 1904545
• 负责人: Mark Ellison
• 金额: $ 20.02万
• 依托单位: Ursinus College
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2019-09-01 至 2024-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1904545&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: RUI; Collaborative; Research; Electrokinetic; Transport

Dr. Mark Ellison of the Department of Chemistry, Ursinus College and Dr. Michael S. Strano of the Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) are supported by the Macromolecular, Supramolecular, and Nanochemistry (MSN) Program of the Division of Chemistry to study the motion of ions and molecules through the interior of carbon nanotubes. Flow of material at these dimensions is quite different from our everyday experience, so this research is expected to improve our understanding of how these ions and molecules are transported through tubes that are not much bigger in diameter than the objects themselves. The work is initially focused on the transport of amino acids and neurotransmitters, including acetylcholine and dopamine through the nanotubes. At a later stage, the nanotubes are outfitted with tiny gold electrodes to control the rate of flow through the tubes using an electric signal. If successful, the project is likely to impact the development of biosensing, medical testing, and electronic nanodevices. It is also likely to improve our understanding of the motion of biologically important molecules in biological channels and synthetic nanopores such as in the human brain. During the course of conducting this research, a diverse group of undergraduate students as well as female high school students are afforded a research experience at Ursinus College. In addition, the students benefit from visits to MIT to prepare nanotube devices and conduct experiments with the help of MIT graduate students. The project investigates the fundamental processes of the transport of small ions and molecules through single wall nanotubes (SWNTs). Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is used to deposit SWNTs on silicon wafers and the devices are equipped with electrodes to conduct the needed ion current measurements. This, combined with SEM and Raman spectroscopy measurements, provides the necessary data to characterize the devices and to provide information on the mechanisms involved in the transport of ionic and molecular species through the nanotubes. The Ursinus undergraduate students travel to MIT to use equipment and instruments such as a chemical vapor deposition oven, scanning electron microscope, and a Raman microscope to construct the SWNT devices. The devices are brought back to Ursinus to conduct the voltage clamp measurements of ion transport. The work is initially focused on the transport of amino acids and neurotransmitters, including acetylcholine and dopamine, through the nanotubes. At a later stage, the nanotubes are outfitted with gold electrodes to gate and control the rate of flow through the tubes by an electric signal. The experiments are designed to provide the data needed to improve our understanding of ion and molecule transport through SWCNT nanopores and to explore the use of SWCNTs as conduits for the delivery of amino acids and neurotransmitters to specific targets.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.

乌尔辛斯学院化学系的Mark Ellison博士和麻省理工学院(MIT)化学工程系的Michael S.Stro博士受到化学系大分子、超分子和纳米化学(MSN)计划的支持，研究离子和分子在碳纳米管内部的运动。这些维度的物质流动与我们的日常体验截然不同，因此这项研究有望提高我们对这些离子和分子是如何通过直径比物体本身大不了多少的管子传输的理解。这项工作最初的重点是氨基酸和神经递质的运输，包括乙酰胆碱和多巴胺通过纳米管。在后来的阶段，纳米管被配备了微小的金电极，以使用电信号控制流经管子的速度。如果成功，该项目可能会影响生物传感、医学测试和电子纳米设备的发展。这也可能提高我们对生物通道和合成纳米孔(如人脑)中生物重要分子运动的理解。在进行这项研究的过程中，一群不同的本科生和女高中生在乌尔辛斯学院进行了一次研究体验。此外，学生们还可以访问麻省理工学院，在麻省理工学院研究生的帮助下准备纳米管设备并进行实验。该项目研究小离子和小分子通过单壁纳米管(SWNTs)传输的基本过程。化学气相沉积(CVD)被用来在硅片上沉积单壁碳纳米管，该设备配备了电极来进行所需的离子电流测量。这与扫描电子显微镜和拉曼光谱测量相结合，提供了必要的数据来表征这些设备，并提供了有关离子和分子物种通过纳米管传输的机制的信息。乌尔松斯大学的本科生前往麻省理工学院，使用化学气相沉积烤箱、扫描电子显微镜和拉曼显微镜等设备和仪器来构建SWNT设备。这些设备被带回乌尔辛斯，进行离子传输的电压钳测量。这项工作最初的重点是氨基酸和神经递质的运输，包括乙酰胆碱和多巴胺，通过纳米管。在后来的阶段，纳米管配备了金电极，以通过电信号门控和控制流经管子的速度。这些实验旨在提供必要的数据，以提高我们对单壁碳纳米管纳米孔中离子和分子传输的理解，并探索将单壁碳纳米管作为向特定目标输送氨基酸和神经递质的管道。该奖项反映了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。