2010-01-12 ~ 2010-01-12
Dr. Poe Lecture Ha

Nanoparticle Interfaces to Biology: Enabling New Capabilities in Drug Delivery and Protein Synthesis

  • 最後更新:
  • 2010-01-06 04:42:49
  • 活動時間:
  • 2010-01-12 ~ 2010-01-12
  • 活動地點:
  • Dr. Poe Lecture Hall, IAMS (中研院原分所浦大邦講堂 台大校園內)
  • 報名時間:
  • 2010-01-06 ~ 2010-01-06
  • 活動費用:
  • free

活動介紹

Nanoparticle Interfaces to Biology: Enabling New Capabilities in Drug Delivery and Protein Synthesis

The synergistic combination of nanotechnology and biology has resulted in numerous of innovative approaches for using biomolecules as machines, new therapies for diseases, and biological and biomolecular sensors. One of the most exciting prospects of nanotechnology is that nanoparticles can act as a “handle” by which one can control nanoscale processes, particularly biological ones. Due to their size, nanoparticles can reach places where such processes are typically inaccessible to external manipulation, such as inside individual cells.



Consequently, nanotechnology has held great promise for enhancing existing biological systems as well as engineering new capabilities in biology. We use laser excitation of gold nanorods to control the release of multiple species independently. Ultrafast laser excitation at the nanorod longitudinal surface plasmon resonance (SPR) heats the nanorod to a high local temperature, inducing melting, which can release biomolecules conjugated to the nanorod. Because the SPR is tunable by changing nanorod aspect ratio, nanorods with different aspect ratios can be excited independently at different wavelengths. We exploit this property for selective and mutually exclusive release of two distinct DNA oligonucleotides, and show that the released DNA is still functional. In addition, we are utilizing nanoparticles to enhance biological reactions. One of the biggest barriers for effective use of nanoparticles in biology is non-specific adsorption, where proteins and DNA non-covalently stick to nanoparticles. Typically, non-specific adsorption is viewed as a major hindrance to nanobiotechnology, but we demonstrate that it is actually ideal for enhancing the efficiency of protein production in an in vitro translation mix. By tuning the balance between non-specific adsorption and specific binding, we can optimize enhancement and also enhance translation of a specific gene in a pool.
Speaker: Prof. Kimberly Hamad-Schifferli (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA)

  • 主辦單位:
  • 聯絡人:
  • 陳家俊教授 Prof. Chia-Chun Chen,77346173