Project description
A novel platform traps and zaps biomolecules
Molecular polarisability is a measure of a molecule's electron redistribution in response to an electric field. It is an important factor shaping the molecular structure of biomolecules and influencing biochemical reactions. For example, it is instrumental in driving the structure-activity relationships critical to drug discovery. Despite its significance, the polarisation properties of single molecules are difficult to measure due to the resolution of current technologies. The EU-funded Dielec2DBiomolecules project will confine biomolecules in 2D crystals to enable nanometre resolution of their molecular polarisability for the first time.
Objective
Macromolecular organization and interactions have long been recognized to be strongly influenced by electrostatic and electrodynamics interactions which in turn depend on the molecular polarizability. In particular, molecular polarization plays a fundamental role in the molecular structure of biomolecules like DNA and proteins. Yet, this physical property of biomolecules has remained almost unexplored so far because measurements on the molecular scale are a technical challenge. Previous experimental work mostly relied on standard approaches as such broadband dielectric spectroscopy which are limited to the micrometer scale and, therefore, cannot resolve the polarization properties of single molecules. Hence, new experimental approaches are needed to measure the polarizability of molecules at molecular level. In this project, we will tackle this important issue and develop a novel experimental platform that will allow to access for the first time the polarizability of biomolecules under two-dimensional (2D) confinement. This will be achieved by coupling two novel technologies of nanoscience: scanning dielectric microscopy, a recently developed scanning probe technique, and the 2D-materials technology. We will engineer novel 2D liquid cells by assembling 2D crystals, and we will measure the dielectric properties of the biomolecules confined inside using a scanning probe. This is an ambitious experimental research with a strong interdisciplinary and groundbreaking nature, based on the powerful combination of new microscopic approaches with novel 2D materials. The developed platform will access previously unknown physical properties of biomolecules that are crucial to understand their behaviour. It will provide much-needed feedback for first-principles and mean-field theories and allow a better understanding of biomolecular structure and functions.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics DNA
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- engineering and technology nanotechnology nano-materials two-dimensional nanostructures
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy
- natural sciences physical sciences optics spectroscopy
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2018
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
M13 9PL Manchester
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.