Biocatalytic Nanolithography

该基金提供资金用于推进高通量制造方法，通过催化冲压固定酶在纳米尺度上创造表面图案，被称为生物催化纳米光刻。拟议的工作有三个基本组成部分。第一个组成部分致力于开发制造过程所需的蛋白质化学。对于该组分，酶和底物的密度将发生变化，以确定近表面酶转化的最佳条件。此外，还将研究几种酶的表面活性，以扩大可用于图案转移的酶群。第二个部分侧重于主邮票的开发，冲压条件的参数化研究，以及使用具有适当计量所需的仪器，以纳米精度自动操作邮票。第三部分的重点是为研究生和本科生提供一个综合的教育和研究经验，利用目前资助的NSF IGERT项目在生物启发材料和材料系统。如果成功，一种新的纳米级制造方法将产生，利用大自然的工具（酶）在表面上催化反应，并采用自动化过程所需的工程工具。在纳米或微尺度的光刻制造工艺中开发印章是成本高昂的步骤之一。通过用分子初始化主印记，促进可逆固定化学，主印记可以用新的催化剂重新连接，减少高通量制造的工程时间和成本。这种新的催化剂可以简单地取代无活性（磨损）的酶，或者替代催化不同化学反应的酶。该工艺的优点包括：1)缺乏分子从印花到图案表面的物理转移，实现高分辨率；2)酶的固有选择性，促进正交反应性和通过多个冲压程序创建复杂图案的能力；3)绿色化学，避免使用昂贵、有毒和易燃的溶剂、重金属和其他试剂。在这一不断发展的研究领域接受培训的学生将有助于利用大自然的工具在纳米尺度上进行制造。

This grant provides funding to advance high-throughput manufacturing methods for creating surface patterns at the nanoscale with immobilized enzymes through catalytic stamping, designated as biocatalytic nanolithography. There are three essential components to the proposed work. The first component is devoted to the development of the protein chemistry required to enable the manufacturing processes. For this component the density of both enzyme and substrate will be varied to determine the optimum conditions for enzymatic transformation near surfaces. Additionally, the surface activity of several groups of enzymes will be studied to expand the group of enzymes available for pattern transfer. The second component focuses on the development of master stamps, a parametric study of stamping conditions, and the use of instrumentation with appropriate metrology required to automate manipulation of the stamps with nanometer precision. The third component is focused on providing an integrative educational and research experience for both graduate and undergraduate students, leveraging the currently funded NSF IGERT program in biologically inspired materials and material systems. If successful, a new method of manufacturing at the nanoscale will result, utilizing nature's tools (enzymes) for catalyzing reactions on a surface and employing engineering tools required to automate the process. The development of a stamp in lithographic manufacturing processes at the nano- or micro-scale constitutes one of the costly steps. By initially functionalizing the master stamp with molecules that facilitate reversible immobilization chemistry, the masters can be re-inked with new catalyst, reducing engineering time and cost in high-throughput manufacturing. This new catalyst might simply replace inactive (worn-out) enzyme, or an alternative enzyme that catalyzes different chemistry can be substituted. Advantages of the process include 1) lack of physical transfer of molecules from the stamp to the patterned surface, enabling high resolution, 2) inherent selectivity of enzymes that facilitate orthogonal reactivity and the ability to create complex patterns through multiple stamping procedures, and 3) a green chemistry that avoids the use of expensive, toxic, and flammable solvents, heavy metals and other reagents. Students trained in this evolving field of research will contribute to the use of Nature's tools for manufacturing at the nanoscale.