NIRT: Active Nanostructures for Nucleic Directed synthesis of Organic Functional Polymers

PI：Nadrian C.Seeman研究所：纽约大学提案编号：0608889标题：NIRT：用于核定向合成有机功能聚合物的活性纳米结构本提案是响应纳米科学与工程倡议，NSF 05-610，NIRT类。摘要：该项目的目标是在塞曼实验室过去四年开发的DNA纳米技术的基础上，通过化学方法制造一种DNA纳米机器，能够合成具有用常规聚合物合成技术难以或不可能实现的所需光学、电学和立体化学性能的聚合物。其目的是开发和建立构建这种聚合物的策略的原型，其精确度接近核糖体构建蛋白质的精度。该项目将利用Seeman(NYU)、Goddard(加州理工大学)、Winfree(加州理工大学)和Canary(NYU)最近在之前的NIRT和SGER项目下开发的底层工具。他们计划使用这些工具来生产和展示人造核糖体设备。为了实现这一点，他们计划：(1)开发一种翻译装置，将给定的单体序列转化为具有精确长度和序列控制的聚合物(修改以前由Seeman开发的旋转装置)(2)使用Winfree开发的转录电路来控制合成的聚合物的性质和序列，并提供反映系统历史的聚合物。(3)使用Goddard和Den开发的基于第一原理的多尺度模拟工具来设计和优化聚合物单体和连接，以获得具有期望的电子或光学性能的超分子活性有机聚合物结构(4)使用Canary开发的新的有机合成技术来构建DNA-聚合物亚单位结合物，将聚合物亚单位添加到核酸骨架上。这个化学原型系统已经对连续的信息做出了反应。他们计划首先在纳米设备中引入一个移位步骤，这样向设备输入新的信息就会产生一种新的聚合物产品。移位的优势(与Seeman已经开发的旋转装置不同)是，可以制造更长的产品，而不需要制造更大的装置。最终，他们希望通过在温弗里实验室开发的转录电路产生信息，从而建立聚合物，作为逻辑电路的结果，并响应来自周围介质的提示。智能优点：该项目试图开发一种基于DNA的机器原型，能够合成有机聚合物，具有核糖体在合成蛋白质时所表现出的灵活性和专一性。这是一个巨大的挑战，它将刺激许多研究努力，使更广泛的有机化合物能够做到这一点。这项技术没有将其限制在有机聚合物上。该项目建立在塞曼、戈达德、温弗里和金丝雀实验室多年来的发展基础上，所有这些实验室都将对这个问题产生影响。这些不同努力的汇合可能会刺激所涉及的每个研究领域。为了为这项技术提供一个有用的目标，PI计划开发具有非常大的超极化率(极化率)的新型一维和二维非线性光学(NLO)聚合物。更雄心勃勃的是，基于组装2D功能聚合物阵列(而不是其他最近方法的纳米管或纳米线)来构建新型纳米结构体系的提议。他们建议，这些可以用来在节点上放置逻辑单元，而不是简单的开关。这应该会激发许多新的想法和建议。更广泛的影响：纽约大学和加州理工学院的PI积极寻求将代表性不足的群体积极纳入其研究行动，并参与了针对高中和K6学生的特别外联计划，重点是代表性不足的群体。他们坚定地致力于在NIRT计划下继续并升级这些努力。例如，戈达德小组在加州理工大学数学、科学和工程(MSE)项目的少数族裔优质教育(QEM)和少数族裔教育中发挥了至关重要的作用。纽约大学让许多高中生参与了纳米技术研究，Seeman与以科学为导向的艺术和娱乐团体密切合作。研究和教育主题：纳米设备和系统架构

PI: Nadrian C. Seeman Institution: New York UniversityProposal Number: 0608889Title: NIRT: Active Nanostructures for Nucleic Directed Synthesis of Organic Functional PolymersThis proposal was received in response to Nanoscale Science and Engineering initiative, NSF 05-610, category NIRT. Summary: The goal of this project is to build on the DNA nanotechnology developed by the Seeman laboratory over the last four years to chemically manufacture a DNA nanomachine capable of synthesizing polymers with desired optical, electrical, and stereochemical properties that are difficult or impossible to achieve with normal polymer synthesis techniques. The aim is to develop and prototype the strategy to construct such polymers with a precision approaching that by which the ribosome constructs proteins. This project would bring to bear underlying tools that have been developed recently by Seeman (NYU), Goddard (Caltech), Winfree (Caltech), and Canary (NYU) under previous NIRT and SGER projects. They plan to use these tools to produce and demonstrate the artificial ribosome device. To accomplish this they plan to:(1) Develop a translation device to convert a given sequence of monomers to polymers with precise length and sequence control (modifying the rotary device previously developed by Seeman)(2) Use transcriptional circuitry developed by Winfree to control the nature and sequence of the polymer synthesized and to provide polymers that reflect the history of the system.(3) Use multiscale first principles-based simulation tools developed by Goddard and Deng to design and optimize the polymer monomers and connections to achieve supramolecular active organic polymer structures with desired electronic or optical properties(4) Use novel organic synthesis techniques developed by Canary to build DNA-polymer subunit conjugates to add polymer subunits to nucleic acid backbones. This chemistry-prototyping system already responds to a continuous message.They plan to first introduce a translocation step in the nanodevice so that inputting a new message to the device will result in a new polymer product. The advantage of translocation (in contrast to the rotary device already developed by Seeman), is that longer products can be built without making larger devices. Ultimately they expect to generate the message via the transcriptional circuitry developed in the Winfree laboratory, thereby building polymers as a consequence of logical circuitry and in response to cues from the surrounding medium.Intellectual Merit: This project attempts to develop a prototype DNA based machine capable of synthesizing organic polymers with the same flexibility and specificity displayed by the ribosome in synthesizing proteins. This is a grand challenge which would stimulate a number of research efforts to enable this for broader ranges of organic compounds. Nothing in the technology limits it to organic polymers. The project builds on many years of development in the Seeman, Goddard, Winfree, and Canary labs all to be brought to bear on this problem. The confluence of these disparate efforts would likely stimulate each of the research areas involved. To provide a useful target for this technology, the PIs plan to develop novel one and two dimensional nonlinear optical (NLO) polymers with very large hyperpolarizabilities (susceptibilities). Even more ambitious is the proposal to build a new type of nanostructure architecture based on assembling a 2D array of functional polymers (rather than the nanotubes or nanowires of other recent approaches). They suggest that these can be used to put logic units at the nodes rather than simple switches. This should stimulate many new ideas and proposals.Broader Impacts: The NYU and Caltech PIs have aggressively pursued the active incorporation of underrepresented groups within their research operations and they have participated in special outreach programs aimed at both high school and K6 students with an emphasis on underrepresented groups. They are strongly committed to continuing and escalating these efforts under the NIRT program. For example, the Goddard group has played a vital role in Quality Education for Minorities (QEM) and Minorities in Mathematics, Science, and Engineering (MSE) programs at Caltech. NYU has involved many high school students in nanotechnology research and Seeman works closely with scientifically-oriented arts and entertainment groups.Research and Education Theme: Nanoscale Devices and System Architectures