Description du projet
Contribuer à faire des robots biologiques une réalité
Les microrobots biocompatibles capables de se déplacer de manière autonome trouveront de nombreuses applications biomédicales, dont l’administration de médicaments. Les enzymes apparaissent comme des actionneurs intéressants de l’autopropulsion des microrobots en raison de leur capacité à transformer les substrats en produits. Le projet DNA-bots, financé par l’UE, est une initiative axée sur la nanotechnologie qui propose de mettre au point des nanorobots alimentés par des enzymes. Ces robots permettront d’intégrer des nanocommutateurs d’ADN, des capteurs qui subissent un changement conformationnel prédéfini lorsqu’ils se fixent à une séquence cible. L’idée est que ces dispositifs nanorobotiques biodégradables et biocompatibles seront capables de répondre spécifiquement à certains stimuli avec une grande efficacité et sensibilité, et d’administrer les substances qu’ils transportent.
Objectif
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.
Champ scientifique
Programme(s)
Régime de financement
MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EFCoordinateur
00133 Roma
Italie