Collaborative Proposal:RUI: Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Nanopores for Motion Control of Biologically Important Molecules and Ions and Undergraduate Training in Nanopore Transport

乌尔辛斯学院的Mark Ellison博士和麻省理工学院的Michael Stro博士获得了化学系大分子、超分子和纳米化学项目的支持，以研究离子和生物相关分子在单壁碳纳米管中的运动。利用麻省理工学院制造的纳米管纳米孔装置，他们正在进行实验，以研究这些系统的基本性质，并评估它们对离子和分子流动的纳米级检测和控制的有用性。这项研究通过纳米孔将运动的知识扩展到几个重要的领域，包括氨基酸和中性小分子。这项研究也加深了我们对纳米孔性质作用的理解，例如孔口官能团和纳米孔表面电荷对离子和分子通过纳米孔运动的影响。这项研究的结果提供了纳米管纳米孔的基础知识，并向将其用于实际设备迈出了重要的一步。乌尔辛斯学院的本科生研究人员参与了这些项目，获得了各种科学技能。首先，他们获得了进行纳米科学实验的丰富经验。他们还培养自己制定、测试和修改科学假设的能力。此外，乌尔辛斯的学生从与麻省理工学院的合作中受益匪浅，其中包括访问麻省理工学院，用那里的高级研究仪器进行实验。参与这项研究的学生将成为训练有素的年轻科学家，拥有解决广泛科学问题的工具。

Dr. Mark Ellison from Ursinus College and Dr. Michael Strano from MIT are supported by an award from the Macromolecular, Supramolecular and Nanochemistry Program of the Division of Chemistry to investigate the motion of ions and biologically relevant molecules through single-walled carbon nanotubes. Using nanotube nanopore devices fabricated at MIT, they are conducting experiments to study fundamental properties of these systems and to assess their usefulness for the nanoscale detection and control of the flow of ions and molecules. This research extends the knowledge of motion through nanopores to several important areas, including amino acids and small neutral molecules. The research also enhances our understanding of the role of nanopore properties, such as the effects of functional groups at the pore mouth and nanopore surface charge on the motion of ions and molecules through nanopores. The results of this research provide foundational knowledge of nanotube nanopores and take an important step toward utilizing them in practical devices.The undergraduate researchers at Ursinus College involved in these projects attain a variety of scientific skills. First, they obtain significant experience conducting experiments in nanoscience. They also develop their abilities to formulate, test, and revise scientific hypotheses. Additionally, the Ursinus students significantly benefit from the collaboration with MIT, which includes visits to MIT to conduct experiments with the high-grade research instrumentation there. Students involved in this research will emerge as well-trained young scientists with the tools to approach a wide range of scientific questions.