ITR: Synthesis and Characterization of a Light-Driven Molecular Motor

这个纳米级跨学科研究团队（NIRT）奖给内华达州里诺大学是由化学（MPS），物理（MPS）和电子和通信系统（ENG）的部门支持，并提交了该提案，以响应招标“纳米科学与工程”（NSF 01-157）。 有了这个奖项，弗雷德里克教授和他的团队将合成一个分子马达，在光吸收时表现出单向旋转运动。 马达由一个转子发色团和一个手性“棘轮”底座组成。 基底和转子可以被功能化以并入各种纳米结构中。 电机操作将通过分子动力学计算进行建模，并且当电机固定在表面上时，其致动和位置控制将通过实验使用偏振光进行测量。 该马达也将被整合到生物聚合物中，如DNA，测量光诱导的构象变化将测试马达功能。 建模和实验测试的结果将用于优化分子设计。 该电机可能提供前所未有的位置和时间控制，以及高转速。 学生将学习和研究分子设计和合成，表面固定和表征，偏振激光激发和荧光显微镜，生物聚合物技术和大分子动力学计算。有了这个奖项，一个研究科学家团队与专业知识的有机合成，分子光谱学，生物物理学，分子建模和动力学将设计，建造和测试一个分子大小的电机，能够将光能转化为定向的机械能。 偏振激光将用于驱动电机，可能提供精确的位置控制和极高的旋转速度。 马达也将被整合到大的生物分子中，如DNA，以控制它们的形状和功能。 从事该项目的学生将接受分子设计和合成，激光光谱和显微镜，计算机建模和分子生物学方面的高级培训。 这些分子马达的潜在应用包括光可控药物、分子大小的开关和泵、无摩擦材料以及纳米机器的发动机和螺旋桨。

This Nanoscale Interdisciplinary Research Team (NIRT) award to University of Nevada Reno is supported by Divisions of Chemistry (MPS), Physics (MPS) and Electronic and Communications Systems (ENG), and this proposal was submitted in response to the solicitation "Nanoscale Science and Engineering" (NSF 01-157). With this award, Professor Frederick and his team will synthesize a molecular motor that exhibits unidirectional rotary motion upon light absorption. The motor consists of a rotor chromophore geared into a chiral "ratchet" base. The base and rotor can be functionalized for incorporation into a variety of nanostructures. Motor operation will be modeled by molecular dynamics calculations, and its actuation and positional control will be measured experimentally using polarized light when the motor is immobilized on a surface. The motor also will be incorporated into biopolymers, such as DNA, and measuring light-induced conformational changes will test motor functions. The results of modeling and experimental testing will be used to optimize the molecular design. This motor potentially offers unprecedented positional and temporal control, as well as high rotary speed. Students will learn and do research in molecular design and synthesis, surface immobilization and characterization, polarized laser excitation and fluorescence microscopy, biopolymer techniques, and large molecule dynamics calculations.With this award, a team of research scientists with expertise in organic synthesis, molecular spectroscopy, biophysics, and molecular modeling and dynamics will design, construct, and test a molecule-sized motor, capable of converting light energy into directed mechanical energy. Polarized laser light will be used to drive the motor, potentially offering precise positional control and extremely high rotary speeds. The motor will also be incorporated into large biomolecules, such as DNA, to control their shape and function. Students working on the project will receive advanced training in molecular design and synthesis, laser spectroscopy and microscopy, computer modeling, and molecular biology. Potential applications of these molecular motors include light-controllable drugs, molecule-sized switches and pumps, and friction-free materials, as well as engines and propellers for nano-machines.