Functionalization of liquid crystals by the introduction of biomolecules

• Project/Area Number: 15K13555
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Biological physics/Chemical physics/Soft matter physics
• Research Institution: Tokyo University of Science
• Principal Investigator: Furue Hirokazu 東京理科大学, 基礎工学部材料工学科, 教授 (70289304)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2018)
• Budget Amount: ¥3,250,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥750,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥1,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥300,000); Fiscal Year 2016: ¥1,170,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥270,000); Fiscal Year 2015: ¥780,000 (Direct Cost: ¥600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥180,000)
• Keywords: 液晶 / 生物 / DNA / リオトロピック / ブルー相 / 円二色性 / イオン / 塩基 / 偏光顕微鏡 / 電気光学効果 / 両親媒性 / 円偏光二色性 / イオン密度

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this research, we focused on the close relationship between "organism" and "liquid crystal" and investigated the effect of adding DNA to liquid crystal as a biomolecule and the blue phase liquid crystal having a biosimilar structure. As liquid crystal materials, oil-based and water-based liquid crystals were produced. When considering the effect of adding DNA to liquid crystals of oil and water systems, it was found that DNA molecules generally have a strong effect on aqueous liquid crystals close to living bodies. As for the blue phase liquid crystal, the blue phase was successfully developed using a photopolymerizable monomer, and uniform alignment by alignment treatment, and a high mechanical strength sample based thereon were obtained.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

「生物」と「液晶」は同一の特徴を有し、密接な関係にあると考えられるが、具体的には未知の部分ばかりである。本研究では、生体分子としてDNAに着目したが、不均一な相互作用を液晶に導入し、液晶場におけるDNA分子の静的・動的な振る舞いを調査した。DNAの塩基種や塩基数、濃度によって液晶場の振る舞いが異なる結果も得られた。本研究の成果は、液晶を用いたバイオセンサー等に繋がるものと期待される。また、ブルー相液晶を用いた研究では、生物で観られるような高次構造・高機能性を有する材料を、液晶を用いて自己組織的に低エネルギーで実現する手法を提案した。

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Ion density measurement of lyotropic liquid crystals C12E8 doped with DNA molecules (2017)
  • Author(s): Furue Hirokazu、Arai Shunta、Sugizaki Issei、Iwabata Kazuki、Sakaguchi Kengo
  • Journal Title: Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals Volume: 646 Issue: 1 Pages: 88-92
  • DOI: 10.1080/15421406.2017.1284539
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Study on lyotropic liquid crystals doped with DNA (2016)
  • Author(s): H. Furue, T. Segawa, I. Sugisaki, K. Iwabata & K. Sakaguchi
  • Journal Title: Ferroelectrics Volume: 495 Issue: 1 Pages: 143-149
  • DOI: 10.1080/00150193.2016.1136863
  • Peer Reviewed / Acknowledgement Compliant
• [Journal Article] Study on blue phase liquid crystals using photocurable monomers for nano-structured materials (2016)
  • Author(s): Hirokazu Furue, Wataru Neyatani, Shuntaro Igari, and Yasuo Kogo
  • Journal Title: Ferroelectrics Volume: 495 Issue: 1 Pages: 150-157
  • DOI: 10.1080/00150193.2016.1136864
  • Peer Reviewed / Acknowledgement Compliant
• [Presentation] 電場印加した固化ブルー相の硬さ評価 (2019)
  • Author(s): 荒内美沙子、蛭町颯太、古江広和
  • Organizer: 第66回応用物理学関係連合講演会
• [Presentation] DNA添加リオトロピック液晶の塩基種依存性 (2018)
  • Author(s): 田中秀幸、溝口薫、古江広和
  • Organizer: 2018年日本液晶学会討論会
• [Presentation] Ion Density Measurement of Lyotropic Liquid Crystals C12E5 Lamellar Phase Doped with DNA Molecules (2018)
  • Author(s): Hirokazu Furue, Takuya Iyo, Issei Sugizaki, Kazuki Iwabata, and Kengo Sakaguchi
  • Organizer: 27th International Liquid Crystal Conference
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Preparation of Solidified Blue Phase Liquid Crystals and Their Mechanical Strength (2018)
  • Author(s): Kazuki Sasaki, Hirokazu Furue, and Kogo Yasuo
  • Organizer: 27th International Liquid Crystal Conference
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] 固化ブルー相液晶の硬さ評価 (2017)
  • Author(s): 佐々木一輝、橘康次郎、猪狩俊太郎、古江広和
  • Organizer: 第64回応用物理学関係連合講演会
  • Place of Presentation: パシフィコ横浜
  • Year and Date: 2017-03-16
• [Presentation] 固化ブルー相液晶の作製と物性評価 (2017)
  • Author(s): 佐々木一輝、小島菜穂子、古江広和
  • Organizer: 日本液晶学会討論会
• [Presentation] DNA添加液晶の特性評価 (2016)
  • Author(s): 杉崎一生、伊与拓也、岩端一樹、坂口謙吾、古江広和
  • Organizer: 2016年 日本液晶学会討論会
  • Place of Presentation: 大阪工業大学
  • Year and Date: 2016-09-05
• [Presentation] Ion Density Measurement of Lyotropic Liquid Crystals C12E8 Doped with DNA molecules (2016)
  • Author(s): Hirokazu Furue, Shunta Arai, Issei Sugizaki, Kazuki Iwabata, Kengo Sakaguichi
  • Organizer: 26th International Liquid Crystal Conference
  • Place of Presentation: Kent State Univ., USA
  • Year and Date: 2016-08-03
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Ion Density Measurement of Lyotropic Liquid Crystals C12E8 Doped with DNA molecules (2016)
  • Author(s): Hirokazu Furue, Shunta Arai, Issei Sugizaki, Kazuki Iwabata, and Kengo Sakaguchi
  • Organizer: 26th International Liquid Crystal Conference
  • Place of Presentation: Kent (USA)
  • Year and Date: 2016-07-31
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] DNA添加液晶のCDスペクトル測定 (2016)
  • Author(s): 杉崎一生，荒井俊太, 岩端一樹，坂口建吾，古江広和
  • Organizer: 第63回応用物理学関係連合講演会
  • Place of Presentation: 東京工業大学（東京都目黒区）
  • Year and Date: 2016-03-19
• [Presentation] ブルー相液晶に及ぼす配向処理の効果 (2015)
  • Author(s): 猪狩俊太郎 閨谷渉 石井大志 古江広和
  • Organizer: 2015年日本液晶学会討論会
  • Place of Presentation: 東京工業大学（神奈川県横浜市）
  • Year and Date: 2015-09-07
• [Presentation] Study on Blue Phase Liquid Crystals Using Photocurable Monomers for Nano-Structured Materials (2015)
  • Author(s): Hirokazu Furue, Wataru Neyatani, Shuntaro Igari
  • Organizer: The 15th International Conference on Ferroelectric Liquid Crystals
  • Place of Presentation: Prague (Czech)
  • Year and Date: 2015-06-28
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Study on Lyotropic Liquid Crystals Doped with DNA (2015)
  • Author(s): H.Furue, T. Segawa, I. Sugisaki, K. Iwabata, and K. Sakaguchi
  • Organizer: The 15th International Conference on Ferroelectric Liquid Crystals
  • Place of Presentation: Prague (Czech)
  • Year and Date: 2015-06-28
  • Int'l Joint Research