Probing membrane transport using plasmonic nanoarrays engineered for surface-enhanced spectroscopies

使用专为表面增强光谱设计的等离子体纳米阵列探测膜传输

• 批准号: 386427-2010
• 负责人: Brosseau, Christa
• 金额: $ 2.33万
• 依托单位: Saint Mary's University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2015
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2015-01-01 至 2016-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=572956
• 关键词: Probing; membrane; transport; using; plasmonic

This research proposal seeks to develop a novel tool for the investigation of electric field-driven membrane transport phenomena, based on nanoparticle plasmonics and surface-enhanced vibrational spectroscopies. This research will be utilized to probe a variety of voltage-gated membrane transport processes, with an emphasis on biomimetic membrane systems. Of particular interest is the degree to which protein aggregates, such as amyloids, interact with biomembrane systems, and what kind of channels are formed as a result of this interaction. Other systems of interest include the transduction of particular protein toxins across membrane systems, and a better understanding of small molecule permeation through pre-existing protein transmembrane channels. Nanoarray electrodes composed of metal nanoparticles will be designed and engineered to allow for maximum signal attainment in various surface-enhanced spectroscopies, including surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and surface-enhanced infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (SEIRRAS). The very short decay lengths (i.e. < 10 nm for SERS) of the enhanced electric field generated by metal nanostructures makes it possible to record signal from only those species which cross the membrane and arrive at the nanostructured electrode surface, providing the basis of a new methodology for studying membrane transport phenomena. Of particular value is that this approach does not require special labels or probe molecules, and studies can be done in a real time, in situ manner. This research will contribute to our understanding of the design and development of plasmonic nanoarray electrodes, and will enhance our knowledge of voltage-gated membrane transport, particularly with respect to the interaction between aggregated protein and cellular membranes. Findings from such research will be critical to the understanding of disease processes caused by protein aggregates, and may highlight future avenues of disease research.

这项研究计划旨在开发一种新的工具，用于研究电场驱动的膜传输现象，基于纳米粒子等离子体和表面增强振动光谱。这项研究将用于探测各种电压门控膜转运过程，重点是仿生膜系统。特别令人感兴趣的是蛋白质聚集体（如淀粉样蛋白）与生物膜系统相互作用的程度，以及这种相互作用的结果形成了什么样的通道。其他感兴趣的系统包括特定蛋白质毒素跨膜系统的转导，以及更好地了解小分子通过预先存在的蛋白质跨膜通道的渗透。 由金属纳米颗粒组成的纳米阵列电极将被设计和工程化，以允许在各种表面增强光谱中获得最大信号，包括表面增强拉曼光谱（Sers）和表面增强红外反射吸收光谱（SEIRRAS）。 由金属纳米结构产生的增强电场的非常短的衰减长度（即对于Sers < 10 nm）使得可以仅记录来自穿过膜并到达纳米结构电极表面的那些物质的信号，从而为研究膜传输现象提供了新方法的基础。特别有价值的是，这种方法不需要特殊的标记或探针分子，并且可以以真实的实时、原位的方式进行研究。 这项研究将有助于我们理解等离子体纳米阵列电极的设计和开发，并将增强我们对电压门控膜转运的了解，特别是关于聚集蛋白和细胞膜之间的相互作用。这些研究结果对于理解蛋白质聚集体引起的疾病过程至关重要，并可能突出疾病研究的未来途径。