Collaborative Research: FTE: Medium: Three Dimensional Algorithmic Assembly and Information Storage

材料的未来通常被认为需要自下而上地建造尽可能高精度的三维系统。生物分子内在地对自己的结构进行编程，与高精度相互作用，并能够在复杂的结构中自组织。该项目依赖于这些能力，旨在利用DNA的信息特性对生物分子进行编程，以便实现预先设计的、高精度的3D排列。这些发展将使一系列科学和技术领域受益，包括软材料、生物医学接口、药物输送、计算设备和长达数百年的信息存储。该项目将化学和生物化学与三所大学的理论计算机科学和数学相结合，为跨学科的学生培训提供了难得的机会。该项目正在设计DNA异构体基序，并展示真正三维的算法DNA自组装。一个10x10x10存储单元的原型正在建造中，它的种子由三个基于DNA折纸的平面组成，立方体中填满了按算法排列的张拉整体三角形块。该项目将开发存储和检索通过算法得出的3D信息的方法。这些方法基于X射线摄影、低温电子显微镜和高通量DNA测序，以确保所设计的系统在几个世纪内都是可读和可用的。通过指导和培训，该项目通过为本科生、研究生和博士后参与者提供专业发展，帮助缩小全国人口和研究机构终身教职员工之间的多样性差距。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。

The future of materials is often thought to entail bottom-up construction of three-dimensional systems to the highest possible precision. Biomolecules intrinsically program their own structures, interact with high precisions and are able to self-organize in complex structures. This project relies on these capabilities and aims to use the informational character of DNA to program biomolecules so that predesigned, highly-precise, 3D arrangements can be achieved. Such developments would benefit a range of scientific and technological fields including soft materials, biomedical interfaces, drug delivery, computational devices, and centuries-long information storage. The project merges chemistry and biochemistry with theoretical computer science and mathematics from three universities so that exceptional opportunities will be provided for interdisciplinary student training.This project is designing DNA-heteromatter motifs and demonstrate algorithmic DNA self-assembly that is authentically three-dimensional. A prototype of 10x10x10 storage units is being built whose seed is made of three DNA origami-based planes, and the cube is filled with algorithmically-arranged tensegrity triangle blocks. The project will develop methods for storing and retrieving 3D information that is algorithmically derived. These methods are based on X-ray ptychography, cryogenic electron microscopy (cryoEM), and high-throughput DNA sequencing to ensure that the designed systems will be readable and usable for centuries. Through mentorship and training, the project is helping to reduce the diversity gap between the national population and tenured faculty at research institutions by providing professional development to undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral participants.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.