Collaborative Research: Photonic and Electronic Devices Based on Self-Assembling DNA Templates

该计划的目标是开发可靠的协议，用于使用生物启发的分子组装方法制造功能光子和电子纳米结构。在其中一项被提议的任务中，种子纳米粒子将通过分子识别选择性地附着在？DNA折纸吗?模板和熔合形成电极；一个单独的纳米粒子岛将被单独连接，形成一个单电子晶体管。在另一项主要任务中，等离子体领结天线将由纳米颗粒组装而成，并将光学活性纳米级物体附着在热点上。提出的项目的智力价值源于融合了基于dna的自组装方法的最新进展，在溶液组装复合物的特定表面结合方面取得了有希望的初步结果。这些纳米结构可能会发展成为一种新型的天然生物相容性传感器，在生物医学领域具有变革性的应用。更广泛的影响是开发出可替代的、更便宜的（大多数步骤在水溶液中进行）和更通用的制造复合生物纳米器件的方法。该提案有一个特别强调的外联部分：PIs计划从北卡罗来纳中央大学（North Carolina Central University）招收硕士学生。历史上的黑人大学（HBCU）该计划将培养学生在现代纳米技术的生物化学和物理方法的独特组合，这与工业和学术生涯相关。弱势高中学生（SEED项目）将在夏季参加，以感受纳米科学的新兴领域。

The objective of this program is to develop reliable protocols for fabricating functional photonic and electronic nanostructures using bioinspired, molecular assembly methods. In one of the proposed tasks, seed nanoparticles will be selectively attached through molecular recognition to the ?DNA origami? template and fused to form the electrodes; a separate nanoparticle island will be separately attached forming a single-electron transistor. In the other major task, plasmonic bow-tie antennae will be assembled from nanoparticles, and the optically active nanoscale object will be attached in the hot spot. The intellectual merit of the proposed project stems from the convergence of recent advances in DNA-based self-assembly methods with promising preliminary results on specific surface binding of solution-assembled complexes. These nanostructures may develop into a new class of naturally biocompatible sensors that will have transformative applications in the biomedical field. The broader impacts are the development of alternative, cheaper (most steps are in aqueous solution) and more versatile fabrication methods for making composite bio-nano-devices. The proposal has a strongly emphasized outreach component: the PIs plan to recruit MSc students from the North Carolina Central University ? a historically black university (HBCU). The program will train the students in the unique combination of biochemical and physical methods of modern nanotechnology that are relevant for both industrial and academic careers. Disadvantaged high school students (Project SEED) will participate during the summer months to get a feel for the emerging field of nanoscience.