Grants and Contributions:

Grant or Award spanning more than one fiscal year. (2017-2018 to 2022-2023)

Building on decades of extreme miniaturization, electronic devices are emerging as an innovative technology for single-molecule characterization, based on nanoscale electronic circuits able to capture individual molecules and record their structural and chemical activity in real time. The ability to monitor isolated molecules is particularly sought-after in molecular biology to characterize interactions between proteins and nucleic acids without loss of information due to ensemble averaging. Through the proposed research program, I will design original single-molecule bionanoelectronic devices, and expand their application to gain new knowledge on biochemical mechanisms and to develop innovative bioanalytical & biophysical instrumentation. Nanoelectronic platforms have specific advantages for the characterization of biomolecules that will enable advanced single-molecule measurements in biocompatible solutions with exceptional spatial and temporal resolutions. Specifically, the proposed research program is articulated around three projects: charge transport in DNA (Aim 1), enzyme catalytic activity (Aim 2) and biomarker detection (Aim 3). I will address these using an experimental approach that is highly interdisciplinary, combining strategies and techniques from chemistry, biochemistry, solid-state physics and electrical engineering. In particular, this research will provide students with advanced training in electrical measurements, nanofabrication, bioconjugation protocols, microscopy, programming and data analysis.

The proposed research program on bionanoelectronic sensors aims to set the grounds for a profound expansion of bioanalytical and biophysical technology, based on the distinct advantages of electronics in terms of cost, portability and scale-up. Combined with lab-on-a-chip design, it opens the door to assembling affordable, compact and multi-purpose analysis and diagnosis kits, at the time when the rise of genome-based personalized medicine promises a deluge of patient-specific biomarkers. It also unlocks innovative and powerful means for scientists to collect a formidable amount of data on biomolecular processes, and thus generate a unique view of the dynamics of biomolecules and their role in complex diseases such as cancer and immunological disorders. For all these reasons, one can expect the development of electronic sensors to initiate a transformative impact on biochemistry, biophysics and biomedical practice.