Engineering Silver Clusters for Molecular Measurement

在化学系化学测量和成像计划的支持下，德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校的叶教授和福曼大学的佩蒂教授正在研究被称为银团簇的小金属粒子的性质。由于银团簇特殊的化学、物理和光学性质，这些微小的颗粒被制成各种五颜六色的分子传感器，用于检测与疾病相关的DNA和对DNA进行修饰。但我们不知道是什么真正控制了这些奇妙的纳米材料的颜色、稳定性和合成产量。该项目试图回答这些基本问题，最终目标是设计和利用银团簇，用于各种生物传感和成像应用。福曼大学的本科生和高中生描述了发色团的特征，德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校的研究生同时开发了他们的传感应用程序。这两个小组之间的合作和反馈是推动新的纳米传感器发展的关键。此外，PIS还与当地高中进行了接触，以融合更多感兴趣和有才华的学生。这些研究活动将激励一群不同的好奇的学生分享科学创新的兴奋。荧光检测和成像的未来进展因功能探针的稀缺而受阻。叶教授和佩蒂教授正在开发一种新型的可切换和可调的银团簇，它与DNA链结合在一起。他们正在研究控制银团簇化学稳定性、生物兼容性和光学性质的核心因素，使用了大量的纯化和分析技术，如高效液相色谱、SEC、CD、MS、电感耦合等离子体发射光谱和DNA足迹。银团簇由于其强大的、可激活的发射而为分子传感和成像提供了新的机会。物理/分析化学、分子工程和光子学的变革性集成将为不同的应用创造一套通用的工具包，包括个性化医学、超分辨率显微镜和生物医学检测。

With support from the Chemical Measurement and Imaging Program in the Division of Chemistry, Professor Yeh at University of Texas at Austin and Professor Petty at Furman University are studying the properties of small metallic particles, termed silver clusters. Due to the special chemical, physical and optical properties of silver clusters, these tiny particles have been made into a variety of colorful molecular sensors for detection of disease-related DNA and modifications on DNA. But we do not understand what really controls the color, the stability, and synthesis yield of these wonderful nanomaterials. The project seeks to answer these fundamental questions, with the end goal to engineer and harness silver clusters for a diversity of biological sensing and imaging applications. Undergraduate and high school students at Furman characterize the chromophores and the graduate students at UT-Austin at the same time develop their sensing applications. The collaboration and feedback between the two groups are the linchpin that drives the development of new nanosensors. Furthermore, the PIs outreach to local high schools to integrate a larger group of interested and talented students. These research activities will inspire a diverse group of curious students to share in the excitement of scientific innovation.Future progress in fluorescence detection and imaging is hampered by the scarcity of functional probes. Professors Yeh and Petty are developing a novel class of switchable and tunable silver clusters that are conjugated with DNA strands. They are addressing core factors that control the chemical stabilities, biocompatibilities, and optical properties of silver clusters using a wealth of purification and analysis techniques such as HPLC, SEC, CD, MS, ICP-AES and DNA footprinting. Silver clusters present new opportunities for molecular sensing and imaging because of their strong, activatable emission. The transformative integration of physical/analytical chemistry, molecular engineering, and photonics will create a versatile set of toolkit for diverse applications, including personalized medicine, super-resolution microscopy, and biothreat detection.