Biofunctional Hybrid stuructures

A second focus of area F is the realization of biofunctional hybrid structures. Here, we plan to investigate specifically functionalized surfaces on solid substrates or more general the hybridization of different functional blocks to a more sophisticated total system. A high degree of surface functionality by modification of surfaces with (biomolecular) layers is achieved in Abstreiter’s group. Induced conformational changes of biomolecular monolayers on metal and semiconductor substrates are studied as transducing mechanism in biosensing applications. External stimuli include electric fields, hydrodynamic flow or the specific reaction with (bio-) chemical target molecules. The structural changes of the layers are monitored by fluorescence techniques or the fieldeffect in semiconductors. Especially well suited for the deposition and preparation of molecular monolayers of complex composition is nanoimprinting lithography (NIL). The Lugli group employs a NIL machine which can work on any type of surface, with thermal and UV processing capabilities. In addition, a new imprint method, (Nanotemplate Arbitrary-Imprint Lithography, NAIL) has recently been invented. It transfers arbitrary patterns at nanometer length scales to a variety of surfaces more flexibly and at higher resolution than any existing direct-writing tool. Unlike existing nanoimprinting methods, NAIL performs multiple imprints with general templates rather than a single imprint with a custom template. The goal is to use NIL and NAIL for the various surface functionalizations and nanodevice fabrication schemes within NIM.

The functional building blocks of such hybrids are also investigated on the few molecule level. The Simmel group focuses on the construction of biomolecular nanostructures tailored to exhibit functionalities like nanoscale motion, binding and releasing of compounds or molecular positioning. These biomolecular constructs are combined with lithographically fabricated nanostructures to form functional hybrid systems composed of biomolecules, electrodes and microfluidics. There are also considerable research efforts to integrate molecular information processing and synthetic biology within such systems to form autononomous, molecular-scale bioanalysis units. Strong links exist to other efforts within this area and to Area D and E (nanotransducers and -networks). Biohybrid structures, functional surfaces and autonomous sensors are also of great importance for other efforts within NIM, e.g. for cell-substrate interactions (area G), functional nano-agents (area I) and drug delivery systems (area K).