Stochastic motion of biomolecules within a confined space will be studied, using regular nanofluidic channels made by standard MEMS technology. Nanofluidic channels with known shape and depth (10~1000nm) will be designed and fabricated on Si or polymer substrates to confine molecular motion at least in one dimension, and the stochastic motion of single molecules will be followed by the fluorescence correlation spectroscopy technique. The changes in molecular stochastic motion, caused either by the confinement effect or the interaction with Debye layer, will be studied. The result of this research could provide insights in understanding biomolecular transport in the confined intracellular spaces. Also, it could generate new ideas for controlling molecules within nanostructures, which has a direct application in biomolecule sensing and separation. Also, the concept of molecular manipulation by nanofluidic channels could have broad impacts and applications in various science and engineering areas.
The project is being funded by three programs in CTS:
Particulate and Multiphase Processes Thermal Transport and Thermal Processing Separation and Purification Processes
