Bulletin of the American Physical Society
2006 73rd Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Section of the APS
Thursday–Saturday, November 9–11, 2006; Williamsburg, Virginia
Session DA: Bio/Nanophysics |
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Chair: Phillip A. Williams, NASA-Langley Research Center Room: Williamsburg Hospitality House Empire A/B |
Thursday, November 9, 2006 2:00PM - 2:36PM |
DA.00001: DNA Self-assembly and Computer System Fabrication Invited Speaker: The migration of circuit fabrication technology from the microscale to the nanoscale has generated a great deal of interest in how the fundamental physical limitations of materials will change the way computer systems are engineered. The changing relationships between performance, defects, and cost have motivated research into so-called disruptive or exotic technologies and draws inspiration from systems found in biology. Advances in DNA self-assembly have demonstrated versatile and programmable methods for the synthesis of complex nanostructures suitable for logic circuitry. Several recent advances in programmable DNA self-assembly and the theory and design of DNA nanostructures for computing will be presented. The advantages of this technology go beyond the simple scaling of device feature sizes (sub-20nm) to enable new modes of computation that are otherwise impractical with conventional technologies. A brief survey of several computer architectures that take advantage of this new technology will also be presented. [Preview Abstract] |
Thursday, November 9, 2006 2:36PM - 3:12PM |
DA.00002: Hydosomes: optically trappable femtoliter containers for studying single molecular complexes Invited Speaker: The success of single molecule (SM) techniques relies on methods to isolate and confine the biomolecule or molecular complex under study. Typical immobilization strategies currently include (1) binding or adsorbing molecules on a surface, (2) immobilization in porous materials, and more recently (3) encapsulation in a surface-tethered lipid vesicle. Here we demonstrate a new strategy for encapsulating and manipulating single molecules in optically-trappable aqueous nanocontainers that we call hydrosomes [1]. Hydrosomes have significant advantages over other immobilization or confinement strategies, in that they facilitate the study of transiently interacting molecular complexes on a single complex basis. Unlike liposomes, hydrosomes fuse on contact. The various components of a transiently interacting molecular complex can be isolated and confined in different hydrosomes, which can then be fused to form a single larger hydrosome. This larger hydrosome, which contains and confines all complex components and yet permits them to interact freely, can then be optically interrogated [2]. We present a comparison of FRET from single surface-attached RNA 16mers with FRET from single hydrosome-encapsulated RNA 16mers. Significant perturbation from the PEG tether used to immobilize the RNA on the surface is absent for the hydrosome encapsulated RNA. Our intent is to use hydrosome encapsulation and mixing to perform studies of transiently interacting RNA/protein complexes, and two examples will be discussed. \newline \newline [1] Helmerson, K. et al. Optical manipulation of nanocontainers for biotechnology. Dholakia, K and Spalding, GC. Optical Trapping and Optical Micromanipulation(5514). 2004. Proc. SPIE. \newline [2] Reiner, J.E. et al. Optically trapped aqueous droplets for single molecule studies. Applied Physics Letters 89, (2006). [Preview Abstract] |
Thursday, November 9, 2006 3:12PM - 3:48PM |
DA.00003: Proton Radiotherapy Invited Speaker: Proton therapy is the most precise and advanced form of radiation treatment for cancer available. Due to the characteristic Bragg peak associated with ion energy deposition, proton therapy provides the radiation oncologist with a highly exact method of localizing treatment within a patient, as compared with conventional radiation therapy using X-rays or electrons. Controlling disease and minimizing side effects are the twin aims of radiation treatment; protons enhance the opportunity for both by facilitating maximal dose to tumor and minimal dose to surrounding tissue. In the United States, five proton centers currently treat cancer patients. Hampton Roads will be home to the nation's sixth, and largest. An overview of both the treatment capability and research planned for this center will be presented. [Preview Abstract] |
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