Developing DNA-Based Molecular Robots

North Carolina Agri & Tech St Univ, Greensboro NC

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

This proposal seeks funding to acquire state-of-the-art THUNDER Imager Model Organism equipment that will be used to expand the scope of the funded NIH project in PI's laboratory. PI's team plans to extend the current in-vitro studies to in-vivo, which is a significant step in achieving PI's long-term goal of generating autonomous robots that move along the body, detect diseases, report them, and provide therapeutics as needed. As the team’s research expands, the project's complementary aims emerge: understanding DNA nanorobot’s endosomal escape, receptor recognition, in-vivo circulation, distribution, metabolism, and excretion. Our team aims to include additional studies to characterize DNA robots in more complex in-vivo environments. Therefore, the need for a dedicated model animal imaging instrument for the project has become imminent, and the THUNDER Imager Model Organism will enable our team to conduct these studies more efficiently.