Center for Development of Biological Nanosensors (RMI)

递质、激素和其他生物活性分子的分泌取决于复杂的细胞事件序列。虽然有些细胞，如神经和肌肉细胞可以通过电信号进行交流，但大多数细胞通过化学物质进行交流，这些化学物质可以改变释放它们的细胞(称为自分泌物质)、附近的细胞(旁分泌物质或递质)或生物体其他部分的细胞(外分泌物质)的活动。 或荷尔蒙)。正常的细胞功能通常依赖于对这些药物的释放量和时间的严格控制。许多病理事件涉及细胞之间的化学通讯中断(最明显的是中枢神经系统、心脏、肺和肾脏)。由于这些化学信使的重要性，一项巨大的研究工作被用于确定细胞释放的特性。 然而，由于这些方法大多是间接的，或者空间或时间分辨率较低，关于这类药物的释放仍然有许多悬而未决的问题。本计划提出了一种在分子水平上研究细胞通讯过程的创新的、多学科的方法。这项建议利用了两个小组的综合专业知识。细胞和分子信号中心(CCMS)将采取行动 应用传感器实验室(ASL)将作为佐治亚理工学院校园的中心，开发研究生物问题所需的纳米技术。CCMS和ASL已经利用纳米技术建立了正在进行的研究计划和合作拨款，以检查肺和肾细胞系统中的生物活性分子。跨学科计划将重点放在集成扫描纳米探针传感系统的应用上。扫描探针显微镜技术为获得高空间分辨率的化学、地形和光学信息提供了强有力的手段。每种技术--原子力显微镜(AFM)、扫描近场光学显微镜(SNOM)和扫描电化学显微镜(SECM)--都旨在提供特定类型的生物数据。SECM提供了有关细胞表面生物分子活性的信息。概念验证实验已经建立了这种方法的用途，以高时间和空间分辨率测量细胞表面的旁分泌物质，如三磷酸腺苷和活性氧物种，这是现场研究复杂生物系统所需的信息。这一知识可能有助于更好地理解和治疗与细胞通讯障碍相关的疾病，如糖尿病、肺囊性纤维化和多囊肾病。

Secretion of transmitters, hormones, and other biologically active molecules depends upon a complex sequence of cellular events. Although some cells like nerve and muscle cells can communicate through electrical signals, most cells communicate through chemical agents that alter the activity of the cells from which they are released (known as autocrine agents), nearby cells (paracrine agents or transmitters), or cells in other parts of the organism (exocrine agents or hormones). Normal cellular function usually depends upon the very tight control of the amount and timing of the release of these agents. Many pathological events involve disruption of chemical communication between cells (most notably in the central nervous system, heart, lungs, and kidneys). Because of the importance of these chemical messengers, an enormous research effort has been directed to determining the properties of release from cells. However, because most of these methods are indirect or have low spatial or temporal resolution, there are still many unanswered questions concerning the release of such agents. The present program proposes an innovative, multidisciplinary approach to the investigation of cell communication processes at the molecular level. This proposal takes advantage of the combined expertise of two groups. The Center for Cell & Molecular Signaling (CCMS) will act to organize the biological expertise on the Emory campus while the Applied Sensors Laboratory (ASL) will act as the focal point on the Georgia Tech campus for development of the nanotechnology needed to study biological problems. CCMS and ASL already have established ongoing research programs and collaborative grants using nanotechnology to examine biologically active molecules in lung and renal cell systems. The interdisciplinary Program will focus on the application of integrated scanning nanoprobe sensing systems. Scanning probe microscopy techniques provide powerful means for obtaining chemical, topographical and optical information with high spatial resolution. Each technique -atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning near field optical microscopy (SNOM) and scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) - is designed to provide a specific kind of biological data. SECM provides information on the activity of biological molecules at cell surfaces. Proof of concept experiments have already established the utility of such methods to measure paracrine agents like ATP and reactive oxygen species at cell surfaces with high temporal and spatial resolution, information required for in situ investigations of complex biological systems. This knowledge may lead to better understanding and new strategies for treatment of disorders specifically related to cell communication crocesses like diabetes, cystic fibrosis in the lung, and polycystic kidney disease.