SHF: Small: Collaborative Research: Active DNA Assembly of Aperiodic Structures

AF：小：合作研究：非周期性结构的活性DNA组装PI：N.C. Seeman，N.计算和信息处理科学正在迅速扩散，在建立学科，乍一看似乎无关。 例子包括通过生物信息学和算法分子组装领域的生物化学和生物学，或通过量子计算的物理学。 当前电子元件构造的自上而下的光刻方法可能遇到严重的障碍，因为小型化需要非常小尺寸的特征。 这种构造的另一种方法是分子尺度上的可编程自下而上组装。 自下而上组装最流行的基础是DNA自组装，因为DNA包含可以以各种方式控制组装的信息。近年来，各种实验室都在探索这种方法，但大约30年前，PI Seeman的实验室率先提出了这种方法。强大的DNA基序可以自组装成物体，晶格和设备，使用DNA分子（或其类似物）本身固有的信息内容。 值得注意的里程碑包括DNA多面体的自组装，2D DNA周期晶格的自组装，高分辨率3D DNA晶体的自组装，时钟和自主级联式DNA步行者的发展，DNA折纸的发展以及1D和2D算法组件的构建。 这个项目的目标是联合收割机的几个这些发展，以产生强大的非周期性结构，将使纳米级的计算机器的建设。 该项目的目标是通过DNA自组装在纳米级器件的自组装中引入一种新的范例：主动（而不是被动）基于递归的非周期性结构组装。该项目将把DNA步行者的元素整合到基于DNA折纸的瓦片中，作为引导非周期性阵列的分层主动组装的信号。所提出的分层算法组装将是分子自组装中递归的第一个演示，可以被视为编程递归的物理化身。众所周知，自相似和类分形结构在材料设计、热交换和信息处理方面具有优势，例如，微型分形天线所取得的重大进展。 因此，在纳米尺度上自相似排列的可能性有望进一步推进材料和电子器件的设计，同时降低其构建成本。该项目是高度跨学科的，从计算机科学到分子设计，从生物化学到晶体学，物理学和工程学。它直接支持博士后助理（一名西班牙裔女性）和研究生的培训。博士后和学生在做这项工作时接受的培训将使他们成为独特的跨学科研究科学家，训练有素的研究人员能够从事需要更广泛科学知识的研究。博士后研究员将接受培训，领导和协调一个基本跨学科性质的项目。通过他们的教学，PI影响更广泛的学生群体，并通过编写教科书，他们影响更广泛的社会。PI是基于DNA的纳米工程社区的杰出成员。他们的贡献在纳米工程，DNA计算和DNA纳米技术领域得到了广泛的认可，因此PI参与了更广泛的科学组织和活动，讲师和组织者。 PI Seeman经常参与科学艺术活动，并刚刚为新的NSF杂志Mosaic写了一篇关于这个主题的文章。

AF: Small: Collaborative Research: Active DNA Assembly of Aperiodic StructuresPIs: N.C. Seeman, N. JonoskaThe science of computing and information processing is rapidly proliferating within established disciplines that at first glance appear unrelated. Examples include biochemistry and biology through the areas of bioinformatics and algorithmic molecular assembly, or physics, through quantum computing. Current top-down photolithographic methods of electronic component construction are likely to encounter severe barriers as miniaturization requires features at very small sizes. An alternative approach to such constructions is programmable bottom-up assembly on the molecular scale. The most popular basis for bottom-up assembly is DNA self-assembly, because DNA contains information through which assembly can be controlled in a variety of ways. This approach has been explored by a variety of laboratories in recent years, but was pioneered by the PI Seeman's laboratory roughly thirty years ago. Robust DNA motifs can be self-assembled into objects, lattices and devices, using the information content inherent in the DNA molecules (or their analogs) themselves. Notable milestones include the self-assembly of DNA polyhedra, the self-assembly of 2D DNA periodic lattices, the self-assembly of high-resolution 3D DNA crystals, the development of clocked and autonomous cascade-like DNA walkers, the development of DNA origami, and the construction of 1D and 2D algorithmic assemblies. This project aims to combine several of these developments to produce robust aperiodic structures that will enable nano-scale construction of computational machinery. The goal of the project is to introduce a new paradigm in the self-assembly of nano-scale devices by DNA self-assembly: active (rather than passive) recursion-based assembly of aperiodic structures. The project will incorporate elements of DNA walkers into DNA origami-based tiles as signals that guide hierarchical active assembly of aperiodic arrays. The proposed hierarchical algorithmic assembly would be the first demonstration of recursion in molecular self-assembly that can be seen as a physical incarnation of programmed recursion. It is known that self-similar and fractal-like structures have advantages in material design, heat exchange and information processing, e.g., the very significant advances obtained by miniature fractal-like antennas. Consequently, the possibilities for self-similar arrangements at the nano-scale can be expected to advance further the design of materials and electronics, while decreasing the costs involved in their construction. The project is highly interdisciplinary, ranging from computer science to molecular design, from biochemistry to crystallography, physics and engineering. It directly supports training of a postdoctoral associate (a female Hispanic) and graduate students. The training that the postdoc and the students receive in doing this work will prepare them as unique interdisciplinary research scientists, trained researchers able to pursue studies that require broader scientific knowledge. The postdoctoral fellow will be trained to lead and coordinate a project of a fundamentally interdisciplinary nature. Through their teaching, the PIs impact a wider student body, and through writing textbooks they impact the wider society. The PIs are prominent members of the DNA-based nanoengineering community. Their contributions are well recognized in the field of nanoscale engineering, DNA computing and DNA nanotechnology, and as such the PIs are involved in the wider scientic organizations and events as both, lecturers and organizers. PI Seeman is frequently involved in science-art activities, and has just written an article on this topic for the new NSF journal Mosaic.