Associate Professor, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Waseda University
Silicon nanostructure fabrication and its application to biomolecules
During the 2001 academic year, Waseda University began a five year COE (Center of Excellence) project entitled “Molecular nano-engineering” with grants from the Ministry of Education, Sports, Culture, Science and Technology (MEXT). Our aims in cooperation with molecular biologists are the “Establishment of wafer-scale nanostructure fabrication process”, “Preferential immobilization of biomolecules onto nanostructure array” and “Single molecule analysis by means of near-field optical imaging via nano-hole wave-guides”.
Biomolecules have sophisticated functions, such as self-assembly, catalytic molecular recognition and self-restoration. By combining the ability to self-assemble with conventional lithography processes, we can fabricate well-designed nanostructured patterns for single molecule immobilization. For example, figure 1 shows high-density DNA nanostructured patterns formed in a self-assembled monolayer. These well-designed structures allow us also to observe the dynamics of intramolecular interactions in real time. As shown in figure 2, the nanohole arrays, in which functional proteins are immobilized, serve as wave-guides for near-field optical imaging. We can identify intramolecular interactions in vitro using concentrations similar to those found in real cells.
