Design of DNA Origami Machines and Mechanisms

DNA折纸机和机构的设计

• 批准号: 1235060
• 负责人: Carlos Castro
• 金额: $ 40万
• 依托单位: Ohio State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-08-15 至 2016-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1235060&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Design; DNA; Origami; Machines; Mechanisms

This research award provides funding for the development of a systematic design framework for nanoscale machines and mechanisms using DNA origami nanotechnology. DNA origami enables construction of two and three-dimensional nanoscale shapes with unprecedented geometric complexity via molecular self-assembly. The majority of DNA origami research focuses on assembly of static 2D or 3D structures. The goal of this work is to incorporate functional dynamic parts with directed motion into the DNA origami design toolbox. To achieve this goal, a kinematics approach will be implemented to design DNA origami machines and mechanisms that are comprised of links and joints, similar to macroscale machines. A catalogue of various DNA origami links and joints will be designed and fabricated, and their mechanical properties will be characterized experimentally and by molecular simulation. These links and joints will be implemented in the design of prototype mechanisms for proof-of-principle studies. A new theory called projection kinematics will be developed to evaluate the three-dimensional motion of these prototype mechanisms from two-dimensional electron microscopy snapshots. To facilitate future application of DNA origami machines, a computer aided design and simulation program will be developed that facilitates conceptual mechanism design and automates the integration of DNA origami links and joints from the previously developed part catalogues. If successful, this research will greatly advance the fields of DNA nanotechnology, nanoscale design, and nano-robotics. The machines and mechanisms developed in this work together with nanoactuators and controllers will enable design of future nanorobots for applications in numerous fields such as self-assembling computers and chemical compounds, nano-manufacturing, molecular transport in bio-reactors, and drug delivery. This work also opens the door for applying kinematic design to DNA nanotechnology. The computer design automation software developed in this research will greatly facilitate the widespread use of DNA origami mechanisms and machines.

该研究奖为使用DNA折纸纳米技术的纳米级机制和机制的系统设计框架提供了资金。 DNA折纸可以通过分子自组装来构建具有前所未有的几何复杂性的两个和三维纳米级形状。大多数DNA折纸研究都集中在静态2D或3D结构的组装上。 这项工作的目的是将带有指向运动的功能动态零件纳入DNA折纸设计工具箱中。 为了实现这一目标，将采用运动学方法来设计由链接和关节组成的DNA折纸机和机制，类似于宏观机器。 将设计和制造各种DNA折纸链接和关节的目录，并通过实验和分子模拟对其机械性能进行表征。 这些链接和关节将在原型原理机制的设计中实施。 将开发一种称为投影运动学的新理论，以评估这些原型机制从二维电子显微镜快照中的三维运动。 为了促进DNA折纸机的未来应用，将开发一个计算机辅助设计和仿真程序，以促进概念机制设计并自动化以前开发的部分目录的DNA折纸链接和关节的集成。 如果成功的话，这项研究将大大推动DNA纳米技术，纳米级设计和纳米机制的领域。 在此工作中开发的机器和机制与纳米活性剂和控制器一起，将使未来的纳米机器人设计用于在众多领域的应用，例如自组装计算机和化学化合物，纳米制造，生物反应器中的分子运输以及药物输送。 这项工作还为将运动学设计应用于DNA纳米技术打开了大门。 本研究中开发的计算机设计自动化软件将极大地促进DNA折纸机制和机器的广泛使用。