Dynamic nanodevices using protein molecular motors

该计划将专注于基于微纳结构与蛋白质线性分子马达系统相互作用的动态纳米设备的设计、制造和实现，例如肌球蛋白-肌动蛋白细丝和动蛋白-微管。蛋白质分子马达是一种无处不在的生物纳米机器，负责细胞运动和分裂、囊泡运输和肌肉收缩等多种生物学功能。该计划将开发使用蛋白质分子马达的新型混合动态纳米生物设备，用于(I)针对关键疾病(如癌症)的高通量药物发现；(Ii)与经典方法长达数小时的响应时间相比，准即时的诊断；以及(Iii)能够解决目前电子但顺序计算机难以解决的组合问题的计算设备。该计划还将为蛋白质分子马达的基础研究提供新的方法，对医学和医疗保健产生更广泛的影响。该研究团队将通过承担基于分子马达的设备的整个创新路径，从基础科学开始，到实施医疗保健和其他行业的原型设备的研究，从而推动基于蛋白质分子马达的设备的开发远远超出最先进的水平。该计划将巩固加拿大高附加值生物医药产业在全球世界市场上已经占据的主导地位，并为加拿大优秀的纳米制造知识和能力提供新的出路。

The program will focus on the design, fabrication and implementation of dynamic nanodevices based on the interaction of micro- and nano-structures with protein linear molecular motor systems, such as myosin-actin filaments, and kinesin-microtubules. Protein molecular motors are ubiquitous biological nano-machines responsible for biological functions as diverse as cell movement and division, transport of vesicles, and muscle contraction. The program will develop novel hybrid dynamic nano-bio-devices that use protein molecular motors for (i) high throughput drug discovery for critical diseases, e.g., cancer; (ii) diagnostics, which is quasi-immediate, compared with the hours-long response time of classical methodology; and (iii) computing devices capable of solving combinatorial problems intractable for the present electronic, but sequential computers. The program will also deliver new methodologies for the fundamental study of protein molecular motors with wider impact on medicine and health care. The research team will advance the development of protein molecular motors-based devices well beyond the state of the art, by undertaking the whole innovation path on molecular motors-based devices, starting from fundamental science, to the implementation of the research in prototype devices for health care and other industries. The program will consolidate the already commanding position of the high added-value of Canadian biomedical industry in the global world market, as well as providing a new outlet for the excellent Canadian nanofabrication knowledge and capability.