Near Infrared Fluorescent Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes as Novel Solution Phase Optical Sensing Materials Proposal Renewal

在化学测量和成像（CMI）以及化学学部大分子、超分子和纳米化学（MSN）项目的支持下，麻省理工学院的Michael Strano教授和他的团队将开发新的化学工具，利用非共价方法识别和交流分子与纳米管界面的结合。具体而言，研究者计划1)通过吸收的两亲性聚合物的结构/性质关系研究几种分子识别相互作用；2)构建可见/近红外双通道单分子成像显微镜，研究纳米管表面的分子识别；3)基于两亲环结构合成新的聚合物识别位点作为分子识别手段，如硼酸-聚乙二醇聚合物刷和环状PEG基序；4)探索基于Ni2+螯合剂的蛋白质识别方法的变体，以扩展到糖蛋白检测和分析。这项研究如果成功，将促进对碳纳米管表面化学界面如何影响激子辐射重组的理解，所获得的知识将影响生物传感、生物成像以及生命科学研究以外的领域。除了让本科生参与研究和教育之外，斯特拉诺教授还建议通过公共媒体传播研究成果，并不断与高中教师合作，扩大在K-12阶段的影响。

With support from the Chemical Measurement and Imaging (CMI) and Macromolecular, Supramolecular, and Nanochemistry (MSN) Programs in the Division of Chemistry, Professor Michael Strano at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his group will develop new chemical tools to recognize and communicate the binding of molecules to the nanotube interface using non-covalent approaches. Specifically, the investigator plans to 1) study several molecular recognition interactions through structure/property relationships of absorbed amphiphilic polymer; 2) construct a visible/near infrared dual channel single molecule imaging microscope to study molecular recognition at the nanotube surface; 3) synthesize new polymeric recognition sites based on an amphiphilic loop structure as a means of molecular recognition, such as boronic acid-poly ethylene glycol polymer brushes and a looped PEG motif; and 4) explore variants of a Ni2+ chelator-based protein recognition approach to extend to glycoprotein detection and profiling. The proposed research, if successful, will advance understanding about how chemical interfaces at the carbon nanotube surface influence exciton radiative recombination, and the learned knowledge will impact biosensing, bioimaging, as well fields beyond life science research. In addition to engaging undergraduate students in research and education, Professor Strano also proposes to disseminate research results through public media and continuously collaborate with a high school teach to broaden impacts at the K-12 level.