Descrizione del progetto
Macchine su scala nanometrica basate su origami di DNA
La creazione di motori molecolari artificiali su scala nanometrica rappresenta il sogno di una vita degli ingegneri molecolari che esplorano diversi approcci verso costrutti molecolari con azione meccanica controllata, o macchine molecolari artificiali su scala nanometrica. Il progetto EDRIVE, finanziato dall’UE, intende costruire macchine molecolari artificiali veloci e controllate a distanza con funzionalità all’avanguardia. Il progetto combinerà il potenziale della tecnica dell’origami di DNA per la creazione di nanostrutture complesse e tridimensionali al fine di guidare l’assemblaggio preciso di oggetti funzionali su scala nanometrica nonché l’attuazione elettromeccanica. I risultati di EDRIVE offrono la prospettiva di una più ampia applicazione pratica delle macchine su scala nanometrica basate su origami di DNA e lo sviluppo di approcci innovativi alla fabbricazione di macchine molecolari artificiali e motori.
Obiettivo
Inspired both by Nature and the success of macroscopic machines, molecular engineers have been exploring various approaches for the realization of nanoscale artificial molecular machines (AMMs), i.e. molecular constructs capable of controlled mechanical actuation. Despite the great promise of AMMs and the tremendous progress in the field, especially on the synthesis side, multiple conceptual and technical challenges, and open questions, e.g. related to AMMs fabrication, implementation of actuation and, most important, AMMs functionality, still remain. Here, I will combine i) the DNA origami technique with its ability to construct well-defined complex three-dimensional nanostructures, and guide the assembly of functional nanoscale objects with unprecedented precision; and ii) electromechanical actuation, to build fast, remotely controlled artificial molecular machines with functionalities far beyond the state of the art. First, I will fabricate AMMs that translate external stimuli into well-defined spatial reconfiguration of metal nanostructures. I will use such AMMs to build i) active plasmonic surfaces with fast remote modulation of optical responses, and ii) plasmonics probes with single-molecule detection sensitivity. Second, I will design AMMs that can exert forces on single molecules; such AMMs will be used to fabricate i) nanoscale robotic arms, i.e. devices that can pick-up, transport and release cargo (molecules and/or nanoparticles) in multiple cycles, and ii) molecular motors, i.e. devices capable of performing useful chemical or mechanical work and driving chemical systems out of their intrinsic equilibrium. Fabrication of artificial nanoscale molecular motors has been a long-standing dream of molecular engineers.
Results of this project will pave the way towards practical applications of DNA-origami-based machines and might lead to a paradigm shift in approaches to fabrication of artificial molecular machines and motors.
Campo scientifico
Programma(i)
- HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme
Argomento(i)
Meccanismo di finanziamento
HORIZON-AG - HORIZON Action Grant Budget-BasedIstituzione ospitante
02150 Espoo
Finlandia