Bioinspired Transmembrane Nanomachines

Introduction

A hallmark of life is its ability to utilise local free energy to do work at molecular scales. Such work is done by millions of sophisticated protein complexes that act as nanomachines. Prominent among these are the transmembrane motor proteins. They lie at the centre of life-critical molecular processes such as ATP synthase and bacterial propulsion.

Background

Despite the great attention creating artificial molecular machines has received across scientific disciplines, constructing artificial transmembrane nanomachines remains largely unexplored. Such transmembrane artificial nanomachines would give us direct access to one of life’s most universal energy sources, transmembrane electrochemical potentials, and enable us to design novel molecular machines for molecular catalysis, transportation, and cargo propulsion.

Project Goals

In MembraneMachines, I aim to realise a breakthrough by designing and building a series of multi-component transmembrane nanomachines that are embedded in lipid bilayers. Using DNA technology, nanopores, and nanofabrication, my team and I will design, build, and test:

1. An electrochemical-gradient powered transmembrane nanoturbine in biocompatible lipid bilayers to generate controlled conformational changes and power synthesis of life-critical molecules such as ATP.
2. An analyte-agnostic artificial nano stepper that can universally thread polymers through nanopores using self-assembled monolayers and DNA technology.
3. An artificial bacterial flagella motor that converts transmembrane ion gradient into translational propulsion, enabling a new direction in constructing and driving active nanovehicles.

Conclusion

Harnessing cutting-edge advancements in biophysics and biochemistry, “MembraneMachines” promises not just strides in the fields of nanomotors and nanoengineering but also introduces fresh perspectives on nanoscale synthesis, molecular manipulation, and dynamic nano-vehicle cargo transport.