A DNA Based Nanofabrication Technology
for Electronic and Photonic Devices
and Applications
Nanotronics and University of California,
San Diego
This is an abstract
for a talk to be given at the
Fifth
Foresight Conference on Molecular Nanotechnology.
There will be a link from here to the full article when it is
available on the web.
An electric field directed nanofabriciation technology, based
on self-organizing synthetic nucleic acids, is being developed
for molecular diagnostic, photonic array devices, and high
density optical memory applications. Synthetic nucleic acids
(DNA) with intrinsic recognition and self-organizational
properties are used to create component molecular photonic
structures and to functionalize pre- formed submicron or micron
scale semiconductor structures. The DNA derivatized structures,
in a solvent, are placed on a microlectronic substrate or
template device. This relatively simple template device contains
an array of microlocations through which controlled electric
fields are produced. These controlled electric fields are used to
selectively transport and direct the two and three dimensional
organization of the component molecular structures and other
devices on the template surface. In essence, this technique
allows one to carry out the controlled organization of complex
molecular structures within defined perimeters of silicon or
semiconductor structures produced by classical microfabrication
techniques. The technology has the hierarchical logic of allowing
one to control the organization and communication of structures
and components from the molecular scale ---> to the submicron
scale ---> to the micron scale ---> to the macroscopic
scale. Microelectronic template arrays with 50 �m and 80 �m
microlocations have been used to demonstrate the organization of
complex fluorescent DNA molecular structures and mechanisms
within selected microlocations on the array device. Additionally,
the devices have been used to transport 20 nm, 200 nm, 500 nm DNA
derivatized nanospheres, and 1 �m to 5 �m gallium arsenide
particles to selected microlocations on the surface. Some of the
potential applications for this fabrication technology include:
(1) DNA chip arrays for genetic and infectious disease diagnostic
analysis, (2) a fabrication technique for integrated photonic
devices and for diode displays, and (3) a multi-wavelength high
density optical data storage material.
*Corresponding Address:
Michael J. Heller, Ph.D., Vice President Research, Nanotronics,
Inc., 10398 Pacific Center Court, San Diego, Ca 92121, ph:
619-546-7700 fax:619-546-7717 [email protected]
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