Actively Controlled Transport with Molecular Assemblies

圣母大学的保罗·W·博恩教授得到了化学系化学测量和成像计划的支持，以开发多功能纳米级流体设备。该项目研究如何构建设备，使单个结构可以同时切换流体流动，感知特定分子的存在，并随后对这些分子进行治疗--也许是修复环境污染物或破坏体内循环的有害生物分子。施加到设备不同区域的电位会导致少量液体通过特定的通道进行传感和治疗。这些项目寻求将这种电激活的流体流动与电化学反应和敏感的化学传感方法相结合--要么基于电化学反应后分子的发光，要么基于金属中高频激发与周围流体的相互作用。进行电化学反应的一个关键挑战是，它们必须发生在远离地电位的地方，而这种反应通常在那里进行。因此，该项目旨在开发在任意大电压下执行电化学转换的新方法。第二个挑战是，由于这些结构如此之小，在任何给定的时间里，只有极少数的分子可能会发生反应。因此，该项目寻求开发新的高度灵敏的跟踪电子转移反应的方法，适用于超小样本，甚至单分子。该计划对社会的广泛影响从三个方面感受到。首先，这项科学工作涉及微型分析设备中流体流动的控制和操纵，这是国际科学界日益感兴趣的问题。第二，科学工作有助于科学人力资源的开发，因为有来自代表性不足群体和妇女的各种学生的参与。第三个领域是通过与英国剑桥大学世界领先的生物电化学实验室之一进行学生交流，帮助学生了解科学的国际层面。

Professor Paul W. Bohn of the University of Notre Dame is supported by the Chemical Measurement and Imaging Program in the Division of Chemistry to develop multifunctional nanoscale fluidic devices. The project investigates how devices can be constructed so that a single structure can simultaneously switch fluid flow, sense the presence of specific molecules and subsequently subject these molecules to treatment - perhaps remediation of an environmental pollutant or destruction of a harmful biomolecule circulating in the body. Electrical potentials applied to different regions of the device cause small volumes of fluid to move through specific channels for sensing and treatment. The projects seek to combine this electrically-activated fluid flow with electrochemical reactions and with sensitive methods of chemical sensing - based either on the luminescence of the molecules after electrochemical reaction or the interaction of high frequency excitations in metals with the surrounding fluid. One critical challenge in carrying out the electrochemical reactions is that they must occur far from ground potential, where such reactions routinely are carried out. Thus, the project aims to develop new ways to perform electrochemical transformations at arbitrarily large voltages. The second challenge is that because the structures are so small, only a tiny number of molecules may react at any given time. Thus, the project seeks to develop new highly sensitive methods of following electron transfer reactions that are applicable to ultrasmall samples, even to single molecules.The broader impact of this program on society is felt in three ways. First, the scientific work addresses the control and manipulation of fluid flow in miniature analytical devices, a problem of growing interest to the international scientific community. Second, the scientific work contributes to scientific human resource development through the involvement of a diverse range of students with participation from under-represented groups and women. The third area lies in helping students learn about the international dimension of science through a student exchange with one of the world's leading bioelectrochemistry laboratories at Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK.