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Enzyme-powered DNA nanorobotic devices

Projektbeschreibung

Biologische Roboter werden realer

Biokompatible Mikroroboter, die sich autonom bewegen können, könnten in der Medizin vielseitig eingesetzt werden, zum Beispiel bei der Wirkstoffabgabe. Enzyme gelten mittlerweile als attraktive Aktuatoren für den Eigenantrieb von Mikrorobotern, da sie Substrate in Produkte umwandeln können. Das EU-finanzierte Projekt DNA-bots ist eine nanotechnologiegestützte Initiative, die die Entwicklung von Enzym-getriebenen Nanorobotern vorschlägt. Diese Roboter werden außerdem DNA-Nanoschalter umfassen, Sensoren, die bei der Bindung einer Zielsequenz einer vordefinierten Konformationsänderung ausgesetzt werden. Diese biokompatiblen und biologisch abbaubaren Nanoroboter sollen letztendlich effektiv und mit hoher Sensitivität auf bestimmte Stimuli reagieren und ihre Fracht gezielt freisetzen können.

Ziel

WHY: Enzyme-powered nanorobotic devices are able to self-propel thanks to the conversion of a substrate into products, holding a great potential for biomedical applications. A step forward in the field would be the precise control and design over the structure and enzyme spatial configuration, as well as the integration of complex functions. WHAT: DNA-bots is an interdisciplinary approach in which enzyme-propulsion and DNA nanotechnology will be merged to develop a new class of biocompatible and biodegradable nanorobotic devices able to self-propel, sense and actuate in front of specific stimuli. To achieve this goal, I will undertake a high risk/high gain research approach at the forefront of nanotechnology. The leading idea is to design and fabricate DNA nanostructures which will be site-specifically functionalized with enzymes to generate self-propulsion. The enzyme-powered DNA nanorobots will be further engineered by integrating DNA nanoswitches able to sense and perform loading and release of cargoes upon specific stimuli. HOW: The challenge met by this Project is to provide a groundbreaking contribution to DNA nanotechnology and nanorobotics. To achieve these objectives, I will be trained at the Host group led by Prof. Francesco Ricci (University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy), which is a young and dynamic team at the vanguard of the use of DNA nanotechnology for sensing and drug-delivery applications. The Fellowship will proceed through a well-defined set of research and training tasks, organized into four work packages. Thanks to this MSCA Fellowship, I will continue expanding my scientific knowledge and acquiring cutting-edge skills (in synthetic biology, DNA nanotechnology, and nanorobotics), which will significantly impact my career as a researcher and help me to strenghten my position as an independent and mature researcher.

Koordinator

UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI ROMA TOR VERGATA
Netto-EU-Beitrag
€ 183 473,28
Adresse
VIA CRACOVIA 50
00133 Roma
Italien

Auf der Karte ansehen

Region
Centro (IT) Lazio Roma
Aktivitätstyp
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Gesamtkosten
€ 183 473,28