Protein Logic

University Of Illinois At Urbana-Champaign, Urbana IL

Investigators

Abstract

Divisions of Chemistry, Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, Chemical Transport Systems, Computer-Communications Research, and Experimental and Integrated Activities support this multidivisional award to University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. This Nanoscale Interdisciplinary Research Team (NIRT) award is part of the Nanoscale Science and Engineering program. Under this project, an interdisciplinary team with Joseph Lyding as the principal investigator will develop protein-based logic chips that interfaces between biochemical reactions and conventional microfabricated silicon-based electronics such as metal-oxide semiconductor (MOSFETs) taking advantage of biocomplexity and electronic speed. These protein interfaced MOSFETs will help to create atomically accurate protein arrays to function as cellular nonlinear/neural network, and this in turn will help to over come the 100 nm limit in miniaturization of the present transistor technology. Industrial collaborations and outreach programs in the K-12 system will be part of the project. Under the award, ordered and atomically accurate protein arrays that interfaces between biochemical reactions and conventional microfabricated silicon-based electronics will be developed. Strong industrial collaboration will help in the industrial development and technology transfer of this science. In addition, the research program will provide multidisciplinary education and training opportunities in materials chemistry, protein chemistry and electronics to students from K-12 to post doctoral candidates.