Physics of biosensors and biocolloid transport in nature's own nanoenvironment

自然纳米环境中生物传感器和生物胶体传输的物理学

• 批准号: 327113-2006
• 负责人: Karttunen, Mikko
• 金额: $ 2.34万
• 依托单位: University of Western Ontario
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2007
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2007-01-01 至 2008-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=362177
• 关键词: Physics; biosensors; biocolloid; transport; nature

From a physical point of view, biological systems can be characterized by their multicomponent nature, an abundance of interfaces and their inherent non-equilibrium nature. The basic building blocks are lipids, and due to their amphiphilic nature, they form interfaces between structures such as cells and their surroundings. These interfaces are functional: For example, proteins can attach to or penetrate through membranes, thus providing channels for transport of ions and larger molecules in and out of a cell. Membranes are also able to fuse without losing their integrity. The lipid membrane is nature's own nanoenvironment. The building blocks, lipids, as well as many of the functional units, such as nanopores - ion channels and some bacterial toxins -  have dimensions in the nanoscale. Here, the interactions and functionality of channels and nanopores are being investigated using the methods of computational physics and chemistry. The goal is threefold: First, it is vital to identify the fundamental physical interactions and mechanisms governing these systems. Second, the acquired knowledge will be used to study new nanopore applications such as ultrasensitive nanosensors and targeted drug delivery. Third, there are methodological challenges. We use computational and theoretical molecular modeling and state-of-the-art methods will used and developed further. The methods used here are applicable in many other problems in biological, materials and soft matter physics and chemistry, and thus serve a wide community. In addition to nanopores,  biocolloids, such as vesicles are being investigated. The aim is to study how biocolloids can be manipulated, transported, separated and identified using electric fields. The physical phenomena related to these systems are very general, and the applications range from separation of cancerous cells to nanomotors and detection of toxins in water samples.

从物理学的角度来看，生物系统的特点是多组分性质、丰富的界面和固有的非平衡性质。基本的构建块是脂质，并且由于它们的两亲性，它们在诸如细胞及其周围环境的结构之间形成界面。这些接口具有以下功能：例如，蛋白质可以附着或穿透细胞膜，从而为离子和大分子进出细胞提供通道。膜也能够融合而不失去其完整性。脂质膜是自然界自己的纳米环境。构建模块、脂质以及许多功能单元，如纳米孔-离子通道和一些细菌毒素-具有纳米级的尺寸。在这里，通道和纳米孔的相互作用和功能正在使用计算物理和化学的方法进行研究。其目标有三：首先，确定控制这些系统的基本物理相互作用和机制至关重要。其次，获得的知识将用于研究新的纳米孔应用，如超灵敏纳米传感器和靶向药物输送。第三，方法上的挑战。我们使用计算和理论分子建模和国家的最先进的方法将被使用和进一步发展。这里使用的方法适用于生物，材料和软物质物理和化学中的许多其他问题，从而为广泛的社区服务。除了纳米孔，生物胶体，如囊泡正在研究中。其目的是研究如何使用电场操纵，运输，分离和识别生物胶体。与这些系统相关的物理现象非常普遍，应用范围从癌细胞的分离到纳米马达和水样中毒素的检测。