CAREER: DNA Transport Through Carbon Nanotubes

DNA通过碳纳米管运输非技术摘要由材料研究部生物材料项目颁发的这项职业奖旨在研究分子通过小孔隙的途径。分子通过小孔隙或结构的通道在许多生物过程中起着关键作用。生物分子有规律地穿过核膜和细胞膜上的孔，影响细胞活动。这种易位过程在许多生物技术领域起着至关重要的作用，如药物输送和重组DNA的组装。这个过程可以通过观察DNA分子在电场作用下穿过定义良好的纳米结构的速率来实验研究。关于控制这一过程的基本物理过程仍然存在相当大的争论。预计从这些实验中获得的结果将为未来分离、操作和核酸测序设备的制造提供信息。PI将测量单链DNA分子通过单个碳纳米管的光学和电传输速率。在这个项目的研究部分的同时，PI将使用聚合物物理和纳米制造的概念作为扩展工作的模型，旨在增加不同群体的小学、大学和研究生对物理的参与。拟议的活动将显著改善纽约州北部高需求农村地区当地小学的物理教育。将教育计划整合到研究计划的方法依赖于PI实验室中本科生和研究生的积极参与。许多科学内容将使用DNA作为模型聚合物的例子来教授，这是一个丰富的教学工具，结合了生物学，物理学和材料科学方面。小学教育将侧重于微加工和生物技术及其对日常生活的影响。在这个项目中，PI将光学和电测量单链DNA分子通过单个碳纳米管运输的速率，从而帮助理解控制生物分子通过纳米孔运输的物理机制。为了解决有关传输过程的基本问题，需要将光学检测与电检测相结合。荧光DNA分子在转移纳米管时将被跟踪，同时测量通过纳米管的离子电流。PI将使用半导体和金属碳纳米管作为施加电压、DNA浓度、DNA长度和盐浓度的函数来测量捕获率和传输时间。调节碳纳米管上的电荷将使PI能够确定电渗透在运输过程中的关键作用。该方法还将阐明纳米管手性和纳米管表面电荷对DNA转运过程的依赖性。这个实验计划将提供一个定量的生物分子运输的理解，将软凝聚态物质物理，化学和生物学联系在一起。除了该项目的研究部分外，PI还将实施一项综合教育计划，以满足宾厄姆顿大学本科和研究生课程的当前需求。教育计划的组成部分包括：(1)为本科生物学家提供微加工模块，旨在增加未被充分代表的群体对物理学的参与；(2)物理研究生创业训练；(3)向当地小学生提供物理演示的推广计划。

DNA Transport Through Carbon NanotubesNon-technical SummaryThis CAREER Award by the Biomaterials program in the Division of Materials Research is to study the passage of molecules through small pores. The passage of molecules through small pores or structures plays a key role in many biological processes. Biological molecules regularly cross through pores in nuclear and cellular membranes to effect cell activity. This translocation process plays an essential role in many areas of biotechnology, like drug delivery and assembling recombinant DNA. This process can be studied experimentally by observing the rate that DNA molecules travel through well-defined nano-structures under the application of an electric field. There is still considerable debate concerning the fundamental physical processes that govern this process. It is envisioned that the results obtained from these experiments will inform the fabrication of future devices for the separation, manipulation, and potential sequencing of nucleic acids. The PI will measure the rate at which single stranded DNA molecules are transported through individual carbon nanotubes, both optically and electrically. In parallel to the research portion of this project the PI will use the concepts of polymer physics and nanofabrication as models in outreach efforts aimed toward increasing participation in physics by different groups of elementary, college, and graduate students. The proposed activities would significantly improve the physics education in local elementary schools in high-need rural areas of upstate New York. The method for integrating the educational plan into the research program relies on the active participation of undergraduate and graduate students in the PI's laboratory. Much of the science content will be taught using DNA as an example of a model polymer, which is a rich pedagogical tool combining aspects of biology, physics, and material science. The elementary school education will have a focus on microfabrication and biotechnology and their impacts on everyday life.Technical SummaryIn this project the PI will optically and electrically measure the rate at which single stranded DNA molecules are transported through individual carbon nanotubes, thus aiding in the understanding of the physical mechanisms that govern biomolecule transport through nanopores. The combination of optical detection with electrical detection is required to address fundamental questions about the transport process. Fluorescent DNA molecules will be tracked as they translocate a nanotube while the ionic current through the nanotube is simultaneously measured. The PI will measure capture rates and transit times using semiconducting and metallic carbon nanotubes as a function of applied voltage, DNA concentration, DNA length, and salt concentration. Modulating the charge on the carbon nanotubes will enable the PI to determine the critical role of electroosmosis in the transport process. This approach will also elucidate the dependence of the nanotube chirality and the nanotube surface charge on the DNA transport process. This experimental program will provide a quantitative understanding of biomolecular transport that ties together soft condensed matter physics, chemistry, and biology. In addition to the research portion of this project the PI will implement an integrated education plan that addresses current needs in Binghamton University's undergraduate and graduate curriculum. The components of the educational plan include: (1) a microfabrication module for undergraduate biologists aimed at increasing participation of underrepresented groups in physics; (2) entrepreneurship training for graduate students in the physical sciences; and (3) an outreach program that provides physics demonstrations to local elementary school children.