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Research on Cell Physiology Using Various Nano Structures


Research on Cell Physiology Using Various Nano Structures

  Cell adhesion, growth, apoptosis, and differentiation can be affected by many kinds of extrinsic cues. For example, engineered nanostructure can affect living cells in various ways in the signal pathways. We develop a platform to study cell physiology such as "stem cell adhesion and differentiation" utilizing many kinds of nanomaterials (carbon nanotubes, nanowires, nanoparticles, quantum dot) and various surface pattering methods such as photolithography, micro-contact printing, dip-pen lithography, self-assembled monolayer, etc. Moreover, these nanowire/nanomaterial based platforms can be integrated as a key tools measuring cell physiology, invasively or non-invasively, in the format of field effect transistor, electrode, cell penetrating probe, etc.



Bio-Motors


Bio-Motor


   Utilizing the developed nano-assembly method, one can directly combine high efficient energy conversion proteins onto solid state devices to build nanoscale energy conversion devices. One example is actomyosin-based actuator. Here, the motor protein, myosin, consumes ATP as a fuel to walk along the actin track, which is the origin of our muscle motion. This protein motor is known to be the most efficient energy conversion units which can convert chemical energy to mechanical energy. Recently, we developed a method to assemble actins and myosins onto the surface while maintaining their motility and designed a hybrid nanoactuators (patent pending). We will utilize nano-assembly process to develop a nanoscale engines which can be utilized for various applications such as advanced drug delivery mechanism. (Picture Reference: The Inner Life of the Cell from Biovisions at Harvard Initiative)



Highly Selective Directed Assembly of Actomyosin


Highly Selective Directed Assembly of Actomyosin


  Protein motors, which generate force and motion in biological systems by hydrolyzing ATP as a fuel are drawing increasing attention as a component for nanoscale electromechanical systems. A key technology in building protein motor-based nanomechanical devices is assembling these motor proteins onto specific locations of solid structures while maintaining their biomechanical functions. We report a method to functionalize silicon nanowires with heavy meromyosin and to disperse them in aqueous solution. We successfully demonstrated the motility assay using the HMM-functionalized Si-NWs. Significantly, HMM-functionalized Si-NWs supported the linear motion of actin filaments over 100 um long distance without any confining physical barrier.