I-Corps: Development of Bent DNA Molecules as Amplifying Sensors

这个I-Corps项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力是开发传感器来研究DNA与离子和小有机分子的相互作用，以及筛选DNA靶向分子作为潜在药物。DNA是生命最基本的元素之一。DNA与无机盐和有机小分子的相互作用对于理解生命系统中的各种基本细胞过程，对于破译与DNA损伤和修复相关的疾病和癌症的机制，以及对于发现，设计和开发治疗各种疾病和癌症的抑制剂和药物都很重要。 所提出的传感器技术被设计为放大、检测和量化各种分子（例如，金属离子、小有机分子和DNA靶向药物）与DNA的结合。尽管已经开发了各种技术来研究DNA与其他分子之间的相互作用，但目前的技术存在各种缺点，例如需要昂贵、精密和复杂的设备，或者缺乏灵敏度。 这项技术的发展可能会受益，并在几个市场领域，包括生命科学研究工具，分析实验室服务，和制药industry.This I-Corps项目是基于纳米放大器/传感器的发展为基础的弯曲DNA分子的扩增，检测和量化DNA与其他分子的相互作用。目前测量和量化DNA相互作用的方法存在缺陷，需要更容易、更灵敏和更经济的技术。这项技术利用了弓箭形状的弯曲DNA分子，这些分子处于机械应力下，对离子、小有机分子和DNA靶向药物分子的存在更敏感。所提出的设计是基于自组装弯曲DNA放大器。 最近的研究结果表明，弯曲DNA放大器能够放大和检测DNA与14种不同的无机盐和小有机分子之间的相互作用，其中包括一种抗癌药物。 这项技术可以使以前不可能或不容易进行的生命科学研究活动成为可能。 潜在的应用可以包括开发用于扩增和检测DNA与各种分子和离子的相互作用的测定，使得能够定量地理解DNA与这些分子的相互作用的机制，检测重离子在细胞和组织中的积累，筛选DNA-该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并被认为值得通过使用基金会的学术价值和更广泛的影响评审标准。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project is the development of sensors to investigate DNA interactions with ions and small organic molecules, and the screening of DNA-targeting molecules as potential drugs. DNA is one of the most essential elements of life. The interactions of DNA with inorganic salts and small organic molecules are important for understanding various fundamental cellular processes in living systems, for deciphering the mechanisms of diseases and cancers related to DNA damage and repair, and for discovering, designing, and developing inhibitors and drugs to treat various diseases and cancers. The proposed sensor technology is designed to amplify, detect, and quantify the interactions of various molecules (e.g., metal ions, small organic molecules, and DNA-targeting drugs) with DNA. Although various techniques have been developed for investigating the interactions between DNA and other molecules, the current techniques suffer from various drawbacks, such as requiring expensive, sophisticated, and complex equipment, or lacking sensitivity. The development of this technology may benefit and has application in several market areas including life science research tools, analytical lab services, and the pharmaceutical industry.This I-Corps project is based on the development of nano-amplifiers/sensors based on bent DNA molecules for amplifying, detecting, and quantifying DNA interactions with other molecules. Current methods to measure and quantify DNA interactions have drawbacks and there is a need for easier, more sensitive, and more economic technologies. The proposed technology makes use of bent DNA molecules in the shape of archery bows that are under mechanical stress and more sensitive to the presence of ions, small organic molecules, and DNA-targeting drug molecules. The proposed design is based on self-assembled bent DNA amplifiers. Recent results have demonstrated that bent DNA amplifiers are able to amplify and detect the interactions between DNA and 14 different inorganic salts and small organic molecules, including one anti-cancer drug. This technology may enable life science research activities that were previously not possible or easy to carry out. The potential applications may include developing an assay for amplifying and detecting DNA interactions with various molecules and ions, enabling quantitative understanding of the mechanisms of DNA interactions with these molecules, detecting the accumulation of heavy ions in cells and tissues, and screening DNA-targeting molecules as potential drugs.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.