NER: Nanofilament Directional Control within a Hybrid Microelectronic Actin-Myosin Motility Assay via Integrated Electric Field Addressing

本研究的目的是从根本上了解生物分子运输机制的控制机制，这些机制可以作为其直接用于集成生物分子系统或模拟这些生物过程的纳米工程系统开发的基础。肌动蛋白-肌球蛋白和纳米管-动力蛋白系统是两种基于蛋白质的系统，它们是基于生物纳米级运输现象实现线性和旋转生物分子马达的基本组成部分。该方法是在纳米级肌动蛋白-肌球蛋白运动测定中对微米级电场相互作用的基础探索。在被测表面下用集成电极结构建立的电场将用于实验表征它们对纳米级线性生物分子马达灯丝排列、运动方向和分析环境的影响。荧光技术将用于光学观察分析中的肌动蛋白运动，质谱法和圆二色法用于确定对肌动蛋白-肌球蛋白系统的场效应。生物分子运输的控制对于纳米运动系统的发展至关重要，无论是在传感或装配过程中进行分子货物输送，还是作为将微机电系统与纳米级系统连接起来的一种手段。这一探索性的努力将为在微电子环境中控制纳米级生物分子马达建立基础框架。从教育的角度来看，这个项目的活动通过研究经验和课程模块开发提供了机会，整合了学生在不同领域的教育经验，包括纳米/微制造、电磁学、蛋白质组学、微流体学和化学。

The objective of this research is to fundamentally understand the governing mechanics of biological molecular transport mechanisms that can serve as a foundation for their direct use in integrated biomolecular systems or the development of nanoengineered systems that mimic these biological processes. Actin-myosin and nanotubule-kinesin systems represent two protein-based systems being explored as basic building blocks for realization of linear and rotary biomolecular motors based on biological nanoscale transport phenomena. The approach is fundamental exploration of the interaction of electric fields localized on the micron scale with the nanoscale actin-myosin motility assay. Electric fields established with integrated electrode structures under the assayed surface will be used to experimentally characterize their effect on nanoscale linear biomolecular motor filament alignment, direction of motion, and assay ambient. Fluorescence techniques will be used to optically observe actin motion in assay, with mass spectrometry and circular dichroism used to determine field effects on the actin-myosin system. Control of biomolecular transport is essential to the advancement of nanokinematic systems whether for molecular cargo delivery in sensing or assembly processes, or as a means to interface micro-electro-mechanical systems with the nanoscale regime. This exploratory effort will establish the underlying framework for the control of nanoscale biomolecular motors from within a microelectronic environment. From an educational perspective, the activities of this project offer opportunities through research experiences and course module development for integrating students' educational experience across diverse areas including nano/microfabrication, electromagnetics, proteomics, microfluidics, and chemistry.