FMSG: DNA-based Assembly of Manufacturable NanoElectronic Device

该项目的愿景是为社会上可制造的基于DNA的电子产品的长期扩展提供一个框架，利用DNA纳米技术、合成生物学和纳米级电子技术的进步，以及培养一支经过适当培训的劳动力来推进该领域的发展。DNA纳米技术近40年前在美国的发明，加上美国顶尖大学在过去15年中取得的重大进展，已经使DNA纳米技术接近一个临界点，类似于1950年代和60年代的半导体技术。要成功地将DNA纳米技术引入制造门槛，需要在技术、基础和人力资源方面取得若干进步：(i)计算机辅助设计（CAD）工具来模拟它们在用例环境中的折叠和电子特性；（ii）必须扩展可扩展的DNA纳米结构放置方法；（iii）坚固、稳定的电触点必须按比例调整到可制造的水平；DNA折纸支架的生长和组装必须优化并按比例达到生产水平；（五）为培养具有跨学科技能的劳动力打下基础，这些技能是应对广泛学科挑战所必需的。该种子基金将重点关注与定义这些问题的框架、开发制造这些系统的流程、开发实施这些系统的劳动力以及定义向前发展的伙伴关系相关的研究主题。基于dna的电子系统的制造框架的发展，以及从这个跨学科项目中获得的知识将对各种领域产生直接影响。它将为DNA纳米结构在电子学以外的应用领域开辟新的前沿；为半导体行业的持续指数增长提供新的范例；为美国制造业开辟新的应用和能力；为DNA纳米结构在生物学、光学和医学上的应用开辟了新的途径；并帮助准备一支包括不同背景（社区学院、四年制学院和研究型大学）的劳动力队伍，以便能够在这一领域工作。这个项目提出了一个融合的、跨学科的方法来开发制造dna电子产品的基础。该种子基金将使用基于dna的跨线存储元件作为目标器件，并专注于解决制造这些系统的关键障碍。这些包括：(i)开发CAD工具，用于设计基于折纸的存储元件架构，并对基于dna的结构的电子特性进行建模；（ii） DNA纳米结构的设计及其通过化学和电子连接模式与光刻定义的触点的连接，以供读出；（iii）开发可扩展的方法，通过控制表面相互作用和使用介电泳放置控制，在电路内的指定位置组装DNA纳米结构；（iv）制定一个框架，允许在合成生物学、DNA纳米技术、纳米电子学和制造业方面培训具有足够背景的劳动力，以帮助将该领域从前沿研究平台转变为基础制造平台。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The vision of this project is to produce a framework for the long-term expansion of manufacturable DNA-based electronics in society, leveraging advances in DNA nanotechnology, synthetic biology, and nanoscale electronics, in addition to developing a workforce appropriately trained to advance the field. The invention of DNA nanotechnology in the United States (US) nearly 40 years ago combined with the significant advances made in leading US universities over the last 15 years, has put DNA nanotechnology near a tipping point, similar to the state of semiconductor technology in the 1950’s and 60’s. To succeed in bringing DNA nanotechnology to a manufacturing threshold, several technological, fundamental, and human resource advances are required: (i) computer aided design (CAD) tools to model their folding and electronic properties in use-case environments, (ii) scalable methods for the placement of DNA nanostructures must be expanded; (iii) robust, stable, electrical contacts must be scaled to manufacturable levels; (iv) growth and assembly of DNA origami scaffolds must be optimized and scaled to production levels; and (v) groundwork for the development of a workforce that is trained with the interdisciplinary skills necessary to address challenges across a wide breadth of disciplines. This seed grant will focus on research topics related to defining the framework for these issues, developing processes for manufacturing these systems, developing a workforce for their implementation, and defining partnerships for moving forward. The development of a manufacturing framework for DNA-based electronic systems, and the knowledge gained from this transdisciplinary project will have a direct impact on a variety of fields. It will allow the development of new frontiers for DNA nanostructures in applications beyond electronics; enable new paradigms for the continued exponential growth of the semiconductor industry; open new applications and capabilities for US-based manufacturing; open new avenues for DNA nanostructures in biology, optics, and medicine; and help prepare a workforce inclusive of diverse backgrounds (community colleges, four-year colleges and research universities) to be able to work in this field. This project presents a convergent, interdisciplinary approach to developing a foundation for manufacturing DNA-based electronics. This seed grant will use DNA-based cross-wire memory elements as the target device, and focus on addressing key roadblocks to manufacturing these systems. These include: (i) the development of CAD tools for designing memory element origami-based architectures, and modeling the electronic properties of DNA-based structures; (ii) the design of DNA nanostructures and their connection to lithographically defined contacts for readout via a combination of chemical and electronic attachment paradigms; (iii) the development of scalable methods for assembling DNA nanostructures at defined locations within a circuit by controlling surface interactions and using dielectrophoretic placement controls; and (iv) the development of a framework that will allow a workforce to be trained with sufficient background in synthetic biology, DNA nanotechnology, nanoscale electronics, and manufacturing to help move this field from a leading-edge research platform to a foundational manufacturing platform.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.