In-Plane Nanofluidic Devices for Particle Characterization

化学部的化学测量和成像计划以及化学、生物工程、环境和运输系统部门的化学和生物分离计划为教授提供支持。印第安纳大学的斯蒂芬·雅各布森和亚当·兹洛特尼克共同开发纳米流体设备，以研究病毒衣壳的运输和组装。为了提高测量精度和准确表征颗粒特性，他们的方法是多次测量单个颗粒，并使用不同尺寸的气孔。本项目采用猴病毒40(SV40)作为模型系统。T=1的SV40衣壳由12个五聚体组成，在核酸(RNA和DNA)存在和不存在的情况下组装。教授们。雅各布森和兹洛尼克以及他们的学生使用了阻性脉冲传感技术，这种技术可以在生物相关的浓度下实时提供单个粒子的灵敏度。阻性脉冲传感与快速设备混合相结合，可以观察组装过程中的早期时间点，并能够在不使用化学标记的情况下探测五聚体、中间体和完全形成的衣壳。该项目提供了对病毒样颗粒如何组装的基本理解，这在许多领域，如医学、生物技术、纳米技术和材料中是至关重要的。该项目开发的测量技术可以应用于了解一系列自然发生的和合成的组装系统。本科生和研究生有机会发展最先进的纳米制造、成像和测量技术。该项目还向小学生传授毫米、微米和纳米尺度的知识，并向高中生传授微米和纳米尺度的分离和扩散概念。

The Chemical Measurements and Imaging Program in the Chemistry Division and Chemical and Biological Separations Program in the Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems Division support Profs. Stephen Jacobson and Adam Zlotnick at Indiana University to develop nanofluidic devices to study transport and assembly of virus capsids. To improve measurement precision and accurately characterize particle properties, their approach is to measure single particles multiple times and with pores having different dimensions. In this project, simian virus 40 (SV40) is used as the model system. The T=1 SV40 capsid is composed of 12 pentamers and assembles with and without nucleic acid (RNA and DNA) present. Profs. Jacobson and Zlotnick and their students use resistive-pulse sensing, which provides single particle sensitivity in real time and at biologically relevant concentrations. Resistive-pulse sensing combined with rapid on-device mixing permits observation of early time points in the assembly process and the ability to probe pentamers, intermediates, and fully formed capsids without the use of chemical labels.This project provides a fundamental understanding of how virus-like particles assemble, which is critical in a number of fields, e.g., medicine, biotechnology, nanotechnology, and materials. The measurement techniques developed in this project can be applied to understanding a range of naturally occurring and synthetic assembly systems. Undergraduate and graduate students have the opportunity to develop state-of-the-art nanoscale fabrication, imaging, and measurement techniques. The project also teaches elementary students about millimeter, micrometer, and nanometer length scales and high school students the concepts of separation and diffusion at the micro- and nanoscale.