SemiSynBio-III: DNA Templated Chiral Metamaterials for Information Storage

大数据的兴起增加了对数据存储技术创新的需求，而传统电子产品正达到其物理极限。DNA是一种新兴的数据存储材料，由于其高容量和低运行能量，是硅基技术的一种可行的替代方案。然而，目前的DNA存储技术缺乏对DNA编码数据的结构化访问和分配组织。核心操作需要复杂而缓慢的写入和读出过程，如排序，这导致在速度、可持续性和可扩展性方面存在实际障碍。为了应对这些挑战，该项目旨在开发第一个DNA编码的超材料数据存储系统，这可能会产生一个可重写的高速集成随机存取系统。该项目具有巨大的潜力，可以将信息DNA材料转化为有用的设备，以前所未有的速度丰富人类的能力，从微小的存储器到超高速的光学计算机和生物传感器，造福于美国的社会和经济部门。这一跨学科研究项目独特地整合了DNA纳米技术和超材料领域的强大概念，构建了一个对DNA超材料进行数字编码的新平台。信息比特将通过具有DNA折纸功能的手性元原子纳米结构的螺旋度或手性来设计、编码和解码。基于生物分子的计算与超材料建模相结合，将为系统的所有设计方面提供信息，从分子、元原子到系统级规模。这种系统中的随机访问将通过亚波长光学调制与DNA模板化图案化相结合动态实现，提供高容量、光速读出能力，打破了瞬变电子学的限制。该项目的成功将大大促进对生物科学、材料、信息科学和技术的基本理解，为下一代生物纳米数据存储和信息技术铺平道路。该项目由生物科学局(BIO)分子和细胞生物科学司(MCB)、计算机和信息科学与工程局(CEISE)计算和通信基础司(CCF)联合资助。工程局(ENG)的电气、通信和网络系统(ECCS)部门和数学和物理科学局(MPS)的材料研究部(DMR)。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The rise of big data has increased the demand for technological innovations in data storage while traditional electronics is reaching its physical limit. DNA, an emerging data storage material, is a viable alternative to silicon-based technology due to its high capacity and low operational energy. However, current DNA storage technologies lack the structural access and allocated organization of data encoded in DNA. The core operations require complex and slow writing and readout processes such as sequencing, which leads to practical barriers in speed, sustainability, and scalability. To address these challenges, this project aims to develop the first DNA-encoded metamaterial data storage system, which could give rise to a rewritable and high-speed integrated random-access system. This project holds tremendous potential to transform informational DNA materials into useful devices to enrich human capabilities from tiny memory with unprecedented speed to ultra-fast optical computers and biosensors, benefiting society and the economic sectors in the US.This interdisciplinary research project uniquely integrates powerful concepts developed in the fields of DNA nanotechnology and metamaterials to construct a novel platform for digitally coding DNA metamaterials. Information bits will be designed, encoded, and decoded by the helicity or handedness with DNA origami-enabled chiral meta-atom nanostructures. Biomolecular-based computation coupled with metamaterial modeling will inform all the design aspects of the system from molecular, meta-atom to system-level scales. Random access in such a system will be achieved dynamically via subwavelength optical modulation coupled with DNA templated patterning, providing high capacity, light speed readout capability that breaks the limits in transient electronics. The success of the project will significantly advance the fundamental understanding of biosciences, materials, information science and technology, paving the way for the next generation of bio-nano data storage and information technology.The project was jointly funded by the Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences (MCB) in the Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO); Division of Computing and Communication Foundations (CCF) in the Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE); Division of Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems (ECCS) in the Directorate for Engineering (ENG) and the Division of Materials Research (DMR) in the Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS).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.