Programmable DNA-based switches and nanomachines for sensing and drug delivery applications

用于传感和药物输送应用的基于 DNA 的可编程开关和纳米机器

• 批准号: RGPIN-2020-06975
• 负责人: ValléeBélisle, Alexis
• 金额: $ 2.11万
• 依托单位: Université de Montréal
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=718590
• 关键词: Programmable; DNA; based; switches; nanomachines

Over the course of millions of years, living organisms have developed ingenious "nanomachines": entities that act like "green" technology on the scale of a nanometer (one-millionth of a millimetre). These nanoscopic machines allow an organism to produce and store clean energy, as well as create molecular systems that detect and protect it from toxic substances, tumors, viruses and bacteria. Dr. Vallée-Bélisle wants to reveal the secrets behind these nanomachines, opening the door to the creation of revolutionary nanotechnologies that could have a major impact on global health and the environment. Dr. Vallée-Bélisle's research program aims at integrating research efforts from various scientific fields (chemistry, biochemistry, electrical and biomedical engineering, and medicine) to develop bio-nanotechnologies that will have an unprecedented impact on global health. More specifically, his laboratory will continue to characterize the mechanisms of natural nanomachines by exploring the thermodynamic and kinetic basis of various of its activation/regulation mechanisms (PROJECT I). This work aims to understand nanomachines via a "synthetic biology" approach by recreating them using DNA chemistry, a highly "programmable" polymers. These fundamental studies provide the basic rules for the design of efficient artificial nanomachines. Other specific objectives of this discovery grant include the design of a wide variety of artificial DNA switches and nanomachines for molecular sensing and medical diagnosis (PROJECT II) as well as programmable nanomachines for targeted drug delivery (chemotherapy or gene therapy) (PROJECT III), which enable improved treatments with reduced side effects.

在数百万年的过程中，生物体已经发展出了巧妙的“纳米机器”：这种实体的行为就像纳米（一毫米的百万分之一）尺度上的“绿色”技术。这些纳米级的机器使生物体能够产生和储存清洁能源，并创造出检测和保护生物体免受有毒物质、肿瘤、病毒和细菌侵害的分子系统。vallsame - bsamisle博士希望揭示这些纳米机器背后的秘密，为创造革命性的纳米技术打开大门，这些技术可能对全球健康和环境产生重大影响。