NER: Lighting a Nanobulb with the Aid of a Microorganism High on Alcohol

AbstractThis提案是响应纳米科学与工程倡议，NSF 05-610，类别NER。 本研究的目的是通过将活微生物中的酶促过程耦合到物理纳米器件来开发活生物电子纳米器件系统，直接将微生物的功能转化为电荷。 该方法基于一种新型的设备架构-纳米粒子项链。与孤立的，单一的纳米粒子岛，作为单电子隧穿器件的功能，标点符号的其余部分，提供纳米电路连接的信号和电源的设备。该项目将探索使用纳米颗粒项链来创建生物晶体管和纳米电池。这项研究有可能通过创建环境友好的，使用再生电力本地供电的纳米系统来彻底改变能源的设想方式。 可能的应用包括检测生物武器的传感器，在单细胞水平上检测分子作用以快速设计药物的分析设备，以及揭示细胞复杂途径的机制。 这项研究的基本结果将被PI用于两个外展活动，发现工程日和明亮的灯光夏季计划，内布拉斯加州的中学生将探索纳米技术，有机能源和材料科学等想法。

AbstractThis proposal was received in response to Nanoscale Science and Engineering initiative, NSF 05-610, category NER. The objective of this research is to develop a live bioelectronic nanodevice system by coupling the enzymatic processes in live microorganisms to a physical nanodevice, directly translating the functions of the microorganism into an electrical charge. The approach is based on a new type of device architecture- a necklace of nanoparticles. Punctuated with isolated, single nanoparticle islands that function as single electron tunneling devices, the rest of the percolating necklace provides the nanocircuitry connecting the device for signal and power. This project will explore using the nanoparticle necklace to create a BioTransistor and a nanObattery.This research has the potential to completely transform the way energy is conceived by creating environmentally-friendly, locally-powered nanosystems using regenerative power. Possible applications include sensors to detect biological weapons, analytical devices detecting molecular action at the single-cell level for rapidly designing drugs, and mechanisms for revealing the complex pathways of cells. Basic findings from this research will be used by the PI in two outreach activities, Discover Engineering Day and Bright Lights Summer Program, where Nebraska middle school students will explore ideas like nanotechnology, organic power and material science.