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Current Research Projects
1. MRI Guided NanoRobotic Systems
In collaboration with EU Project NANOMA
The long term goal of this project is to develop NanoRobotic Systems for medical applications. A NanoRobot could be defined as any “smart” structure capable of actuation, sensing, signaling, information processing, intelligence and manipulation at nano scale (10-9m). In this project, as a first step towards the development of NanoRobotic systems we envision the use of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) as the main source for propulsion, signaling, sensing, command generation and interfacing.
Our specific research goals are:
1) The Design and Manufacturing of NanoRobotic Systems for Medical Applications
2) The MRI-Based Tracking and Propulsion of NanoRobots
3) The Guidance and Control of NanoRobotic Systems Inside Clinical MRI Scanners
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2. Protein Based Nano-Tweezers
Sponsor: National Science Foundation - Biological Infrastructure Division & Nanomanufacturing Program
In this project we study the engineering design of mutant peptides based on the α-helical coiled-coil GCN4 leucine zipper peptide (GCN4-p1) in order to obtain environmentally-responsive nano-tweezers. The actuation mechanism of the nano-tweezers depends on the modification of electrostatic charges on the residues along the length of the coiled coil. Modulating the solution pH between neutral and acidic values results in the reversible movement of helices toward and away from each other and creates a complete closed-open-closed transition cycle between the helices. Our results indicate that the mutants show a reversible opening of up to 15 Ǻ (1.5nm; approximately 150% of the initial separation) upon pH actuation. Investigation on the physicochemical phenomena that influence conformational properties, structural stability, and reversibility of the coiled-coil peptide based nano-tweezers revealed that a rationale design based approach is needed to engineer stable peptide or macromolecules into stimuli-responsive devices. The efficacy of the mutant that demonstrated the most significant reversible actuation for environmentally responsive modulation of DNA binding activity was also demonstrated. Our results have significant implications in bioseparations and in the engineering of novel transcription factors. Current activities include experimental measurement of the nano-tweezer force using Electron-Spin Resonance (ESR) Spectroscopy.
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Completed Research Projects
3. Viral Protein Based Nano-Motors
Sponsor: National Science Foundation - Nanomanufacturing Program
In this study, we studied the development of the Viral Protein Linear (VPL) Nano-Actuator, a protein based device. The inspiration for this device came from the knowledge of the infection mechanism of retroviruses such as Influenza and HIV-1. Such viruses infect their target cells by the process of membrane fusion. There is a protein segment on the surface of the virus that responds to a drop in pH of its surroundings and undergoes a spring-like conformational change. This protein, if isolated from the virus can be used as a pH or temperature sensitive linear actuator. The aim of the project was to create a new biological nanoscale robotic actuator and study its properties computationally and experimentally.
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4. Bio Nano Machines For Space Applications
Sponsor: NASA Institute of Advanced Concepts
This project aimed at proposing, studying and evaluating novel concepts of space devices that are based on revolutionary bio-nano-mechanisms formed by protein and DNA based nano-components. We specifically studied the design of two macro-scale devices with important space application that are based on bio-nano-component assemblies:
i) The Networked TerraXplorer (NTXp): is a long and light-weight network of channels containing millions of bionano-robotic elements with ultra-enhanced sensing and signaling capabilities. NTXp could be used to map and explore in detail very large planetary surfaces.
ii) The All Terrain Astronaut Bio-Nano Gears (ATB) may serve as an extra layer of shield on the astronaut providing early detection and protection against dangerous and harmful environments or aiding in healing damages caused to the astronaut. The ATB gear consists of micro membranes and surface sheets that contain swarms of bio-nano robots providing sensing and signaling capabilities.