NER: Integration of Nanoscale Photonics with Silicon MEMS Injector for Studies on the Embryonic Development Through Calibrated Genetic Perturbation

NER：纳米级光子学与硅 MEMS 注射器的集成，通过校准的遗传扰动研究胚胎发育

• 批准号: 0609413
• 负责人: Xiaojing Zhang
• 金额: $ 10万
• 依托单位: University of Texas at Austin
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2006
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2006-07-01 至 2008-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0609413&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: NER; Integration; Nanoscale; Photonics; Silicon

The objective of this research is to integrate nano-scale photonic science and engineering with microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) on silicon to systematically study gene functions and to understand new molecular mechanisms that are important for development and disease. The proposed investigations are aimed at identifying, through high-throughput RNA-interference (RNAi) microinjection on self-assembled Drosophila embryos, the functions of the new proteins that have been inferred from the Drosophila genome sequence. The approaches are: (1) Design and fabrication of 2-D photonic crystal based force sensor integrated with a silicon MEMS injector. The force microscopy is provided by the same injector with an integrated nano-photonic displacement sensor based on photonic crystals suspended on micro-cantilevers. (2) Numerical and nano-optical characterization of fluidic self-assembly enabling massively parallel RNAi microinjection. Intellectual Merit:The proposed nanoscale devices and system architecture will be extendable to testing and understanding the mechanics of development of other model organisms and cells. The ultimate goal is the development of nano-scale engineering-active substrates tailoring organism (embryos, cells and tissues) development with controllable genetic characteristics. The broader impact of the research enables massively parallel fundamental genetics research, proteomics, and rapid and miniaturized drug discovery efforts. Broader Impact:The research plan is also synergized with the core educational initiative of NSF NER on integrating nanoscale photonics, micro-nano devices, computing and biochemistry into fundamental biological studies at levels ranging from single molecules, to cells, and tissues, with applications to improve diagnostic sensing and imaging modalities. The resulting research and educational processes, materials and technologies will be readily accessible and widely disseminated.

这项研究的目的是将纳米级光子科学和工程与硅上的微机电系统 (MEMS) 相结合，系统地研究基因功能并了解对发育和疾病很重要的新分子机制。拟议的研究旨在通过对自组装果蝇胚胎进行高通量RNA干扰（RNAi）显微注射，鉴定从果蝇基因组序列推断出的新蛋白质的功能。 这些方法是： (1) 设计和制造与硅 MEMS 注入器集成的基于二维光子晶体的力传感器。力显微镜由同一注射器提供，该注射器带有基于悬浮在微悬臂梁上的光子晶体的集成纳米光子位移传感器。 (2) 流体自组装的数值和纳米光学表征，实现大规模并行 RNAi 显微注射。智力优点：所提出的纳米级设备和系统架构将可扩展到测试和理解其他模型生物体和细胞的发育机制。最终目标是开发纳米级工程活性基质，以调节具有可控遗传特征的生物体（胚胎、细胞和组织）的发育。该研究的更广泛影响使大规模并行基础遗传学研究、蛋白质组学以及快速和小型化的药物发现工作成为可能。更广泛的影响：该研究计划还与 NSF NER 的核心教育计划相协同，即将纳米级光子学、微纳米器件、计算和生物化学整合到从单分子到细胞和组织等层面的基础生物学研究中，并应用于改善诊断传感和成像方式。由此产生的研究和教育过程、材料和技术将易于获取并广泛传播。