RUI: Developing Predictive Guidelines to Stabilize Gold Nanoparticles with Peptoids

RUI：制定用类肽稳定金纳米粒子的预测指南

• 批准号: 2305190
• 负责人: Amelia Fuller
• 金额: $ 33万
• 依托单位: Santa Clara University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2023-09-01 至 2026-08-31
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2305190&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: RUI; Developing; Predictive; Guidelines; Stabilize

With the support of the Macromolecular, Supramolecular, and Nanochemistry Program in the Division of Chemistry, Professor Amelia A. Fuller of Santa Clara University will prepare new molecules and investigate their ability to stabilize gold nanoparticles in water. Gold nanoparticles have unique properties that make them important and versatile materials for medical diagnostics, for example. To function in water-rich environments for these applications, gold nanoparticles need to coated with specially tailored molecules. The molecular coatings are designed to prevent nanoparticles from forming insoluble, non-functional aggregates. Professor Fuller and undergraduate research assistants in her laboratory will investigate the use of a class of molecules called peptoids for their capacity to coat gold nanoparticles. Dozens of peptoids with different molecular properties will be synthesized and purified. The ability of each of these to prevent nanoparticle inactivation through aggregation will be measured. The research team will determine the specific molecular features of peptoids that confer optimal stability to the nanoparticles. Undergraduate students who participate in the research will cultivate their technical and problem-solving skills. Many of these students will be engaged through introductory-level coursework that incorporates research training. These experiences will equip a large cross-section of students with proficiencies they need for successful careers in science. Colloidal gold nanoparticles are versatile materials that have found wide-ranging applications that leverage their extraordinarily sensitive optical properties. To function in environmentally and physiologically relevant aqueous conditions, gold nanoparticles must be surface-modified with capping ligands. Ideal capping ligands form a well-packed layer on the nanoparticle surface that solubilizes the nanoparticle in aqueous media and shields the core from the salts and proteins that cause them to agglomerate. In this project, Professor Amelia A. Fuller and her group at Santa Clara University will prepare new capping ligands based on the peptoid (N-substituted glycine) scaffold, and investigate their ability to stabilize gold nanoparticles in water. Sequence-specific peptoids that incorporate a wide diversity of functional groups will be prepared. Their ability to stabilize gold nanoparticles of varied sizes will be evaluated. Ultimately, the Fuller laboratory aim to identify critical molecular features of peptoid capping ligands that confer optimal stability to gold nanoparticles. If successful, this understanding will enable the use of peptoid-capped nanoparticles in a wide variety of sensing and diagnostic applications.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.

在化学系大分子、超分子和纳米化学项目的支持下，圣克拉拉大学的阿米莉亚·A·富勒教授将制备新分子，并研究它们在水中稳定金纳米颗粒的能力。例如，金纳米颗粒具有独特的性质，使其成为医疗诊断的重要和多功能材料。为了在富含水的环境中发挥这些应用的功能，金纳米颗粒需要被特殊定制的分子包裹。分子涂层的设计是为了防止纳米颗粒形成不溶的、无功能的聚集体。富勒教授和她实验室的本科生研究助理将研究一类被称为类肽的分子的使用，因为它们能够包裹金纳米颗粒。数十种不同分子性质的类肽将被合成和提纯。将测量其中每一种通过聚集防止纳米颗粒失活的能力。研究小组将确定赋予纳米颗粒最佳稳定性的类肽的特定分子特征。参与研究的本科生将培养他们的技术和解决问题的能力。这些学生中的许多人将通过包含研究培训的入门级课程工作参与进来。这些经历将使大量的学生具备在科学领域取得成功所需的熟练程度。胶体金纳米颗粒是一种用途广泛的材料，利用其异常敏感的光学特性获得了广泛的应用。为了在与环境和生理相关的水条件下发挥作用，金纳米颗粒必须用封顶配体进行表面修饰。理想的封端配体在纳米颗粒表面形成一层包装良好的层，使纳米颗粒在水介质中溶解，并保护核心不受导致它们团聚的盐和蛋白质的影响。在这个项目中，圣克拉拉大学的Amelia A.Fuller教授和她的团队将基于类肽(N-取代甘氨酸)支架制备新的封端配体，并研究它们稳定水中金纳米颗粒的能力。将制备结合了广泛不同官能团的序列特定的类肽。将评估它们稳定不同大小的金纳米颗粒的能力。最终，富勒实验室的目标是确定赋予金纳米颗粒最佳稳定性的类肽封端配体的关键分子特征。如果成功，这一理解将使肽类纳米颗粒能够在广泛的传感和诊断应用中使用。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。