Lab talk
Aug 11, 2005
DNA templating increases assembly options
Work in the nanochemistry group at University College Dublin and CRANN (Centre for Research on Adaptive Nanostructures and Nanodevices) at Trinity College Dublin aims to use the information contained within biological molecules to 'program' nanoparticle assembly in solution and organization at patterned surfaces.
The programmed assembly and organization of nanoparticles, using strategies inspired by nature, is important because this 'bottom-up' approach can be used to assemble nanoscale devices that have potential applications in next-generation information, communication and healthcare technologies.
One potential application of our work is the assembly of nanoscale electronic wires and switches that can process information more quickly but cost less to make. Another is the creation of smart capsules that can deliver drugs to specific sites within the body.
Our research currently focuses on the electrical characterization of nanoscale devices similar to those whose DNA-templated assembly we reported in Nanotechnology. In the future we will focus on the organization and integration of such nanoscale devices on conventionally patterned silicon wafer substrates.
About the author
Donald Fitzmaurice is Professor of Nanochemistry at University College Dublin, Ireland. He has over one hundred and fifty publications and patents to his name and was recently elected a member of the Royal Irish Academy.
Fitzmaurice is also the founder of NTera Ltd, a company that specializes in electronic paper. During a recent secondment to the business as chief technology officer, he focused on raising the funds necessary to grow the company and on building a world-class technology team.
He recently joined Draper Fischer Jurvetson, a venture capital fund with a particular focus on nanotechnology, as a venture partner.
