DNA Origami Nanostructures with Complex Curvatures in 3D Space

ID：MPS/dmr/bmat(7623)1104373 Pi：yan，Hao ORG：Arizona State University标题：3D空间中具有复杂曲率的DNA折纸纳米结构电子优点：纳米技术和生物材料领域的一个重大挑战是组装完全控制材料形状的任意三维(3D)纳米结构。为了应对这一挑战，PI将开发各种新的策略来构建在3D空间中具有复杂曲率的自组装DNA纳米结构。更具体地说，他建议开发一种自组装系统：(1)使用DNA折纸折叠技术生产包含复杂曲率的3D DNA纳米结构。(2)通过定向插入和删除，创建一组几何的、楔形的DNA纳米结构，以指导预制的、平面的DNA纳米结构的曲率。(3)利用弯曲的三维DNA折纸纳米结构作为支架来模拟组蛋白在基因包装中的作用，并为后续的研究创造人工核小体。这项新技术将利用与结构DNA纳米技术相关的特殊寻址和空间控制来制造类似于生物结构中存在的构象复杂性的人工结构平台，从而为设计新型的生物启发、仿生和生物识别材料创造前所未有的机会。本提案中包含的设计策略提供了迎接这一挑战的基本步骤。该提议旨在实现具有高可编程性和复杂性的3D纳米结构的自组装，并随后将其用作支架来模拟核小体的功能。此外，拟议的研究将为基于DNA的纳米制造提供各种新的和重要的方法。该项目最终寻求超越目前制造任意形状3D纳米结构的自上而下技术的明显限制。这将导致更小、更快、更多样化的纳米结构，用于从能源到生物诊断设备的广泛应用。随着私人投资机构为开发新技术而推进纳米技术，他们的研究为本科生和研究生提供了接受高级科学培训的机会，并为亚利桑那州立大学向社区推广教育提供了机会。严和刘在亚利桑那州立大学的团队位于生物设计研究所，该研究所特别重视跨学科研究。生物设计学院提供了一个招收不同背景的学生的机会，包括化学和生物化学、工程、物理和生命科学。也积极招募少数民族和女性学生。此外，每年夏天，生物设计学院和亚利桑那州立大学还为当地高中生和初中和高中教师提供研究机会[教师暑期研究体验计划(RET)和高中生暑期实习计划(SIP)，以及亚利桑那州科学教师进修和研究培训(AZ-START)]。国际和平协会和联合国际积极参与了这些项目，在他们的实验室里接待了几名少数民族高中教师和学生。他们预计每年夏天会招募更多的高中生参与拟议的研究，并计划与当地的高中化学和科学教师合作，设计一门名为DNA纳米实验室的互动在线课程，旨在向高中生、本科生和公众介绍DNA纳米技术。课程材料将包括文本介绍和实验室照片、视频演示和实验过程的动画。这将使许多无法参加竞争激烈的实习计划的学生受益。这项拟议研究的项目还将用于实验室单元，为对纳米技术感兴趣的更大社区制定基于网络的培训方案。

ID: MPS/DMR/BMAT(7623) 1104373 PI: Yan, Hao ORG: Arizona State UniversityTitle: DNA Origami Nanostructures with Complex Curvatures in 3D SpaceINTELLECTUAL MERIT: A grand challenge in the fields of nanotechnology and biomaterials is to assemble arbitrary, three-dimensional (3D) nanostructures with complete control of the material shape. To address this challenge, the PI will develop various novel strategies to construct self-assembling DNA nanostructures that possess complex curvatures in 3D space. More specifically, he proposes to develop a self-assembling system to: (1) Produce 3D DNA nanostructures that contain intricate, complex curvatures using the DNA origami folding technique. (2) Create a set of geometric, wedge-like DNA nanostructures to direct the curvature of preformed, planar DNA nanostructures using targeted insertion and deletion. (3) Utilize curved, 3D DNA origami nanostructures as scaffolds to mimic the role of histone proteins in gene packaging and create artificial nucleosomes for subsequent study. This new technology will exploit the exceptional addressability and spatial control associated with structural DNA nanotechnology to produce an artificial structural platform that resembles the conformational complexity that exists in biological structures, thus creating unprecedented opportunities for engineering novel bioinspired, biomimetic, and biokleptic materials. The design strategies included in this proposal present fundamental steps toward meeting this challenge. The proposal aims to achieve self-assembly of 3D nanostructures with high programmability and complexity, and subsequently use them as scaffolds to mimic the functionality of nucleosomes. Furthermore, the proposed research will provide various new and significant approaches to DNA-based nanofabrication. This project ultimately seeks to go beyond the evident limits of current top-down techniques for the fabrication of arbitrary shaped 3D nanostructures. This will lead to smaller, faster, and more diverse nanoscale structures for a wide range of applications from energy to bio-diagnostic devices.BROADER IMPACTS: There are broad societal implications for this research. As the PIs advance nanoscale techniques for the development of novel technologies, their research leads to opportunities for undergraduate and graduate student to receive advanced scientific training, and for educational outreach to the community by ASU. Yan and Liu's teams at ASU are located in the Biodesign Institute, which places special emphasis on interdisciplinary research. The Biodesign Institute provides an opportunity to recruit students with various backgrounds including chemistry and biochemistry, engineering, physics, and life science. Also actively recruited are minority and female students. In addition, every summer the Biodesign Institute and ASU also provide research opportunities to local high school students and to middle and high school teachers [Summer Research Experience for Teachers (RET) and High School Student Summer Internship Program (SIP), and Arizona Science Teacher Advancement and Research Training (AZ-START)]. The PI and co-PI have actively participated in these programs, hosting several minority high school teachers and students in their labs. They anticipate the recruitment of additional high school students to participate in the proposed research during each summer and plan to collaborate with local high school chemistry and science teachers to design an interactive online course called DNA Nano Laboratory, aiming to introduce DNA nanotechnology to high school students, undergraduate students and the public. Course materials will include text introductions and laboratory photographs, video demonstrations, and animations of experimental procedures. This will benefit a multitude of students who are not able to participate in the highly competitive internship programs. Projects from this proposed research will also be used in laboratory modules for the development of a web-based training protocol for a larger community interested in nanotechnology.