Dynamic femtoliter reactor technology for next generation digital bioassays

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19H05624
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (S)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Review Section: Broad Section D
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Noji Hiroyuki 東京大学, 大学院工学系研究科(工学部), 教授 (00343111)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-06-26 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 1分子計測 / デジタルバイオ分析 / フェムトリアクタ / ウイルス粒子 / ナノバイオ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In order to innovate the current digital bioanalytical technologies, this project has developed the new field of "dynamic nano reactor technology" by effectively adopting unique physical phenomena such as LLPS and the Soret effect. As a result, some technologies such as a reactor technology that autonomously concentrates target molecules, a technology for patterning phase-separated droplets, and an "artificial cell reactor" that grows autonomously have been developed. These achievements will serve as the basis for "next-generation digital bioanalytical technology" that will enable highly sensitive on-site biochemical test. In addition, quantitative measurement of the "individuality" of enzyme molecules and viral particles was conducted, and a part of the mechanism of individuality expression was revealed. Moreover, the quantitatively analysis of the functional diversification among molecules led to the discovery that intermolecular individuality and ability to evolve are correlated.

Free Research Field

1分子生物物理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

学術的意義として「動的ナノリアクタ技術」の確立があげられる。そこから派生した「人工細胞リアクタ工学」は、合成生物学およびバイオ工学に新しい潮流を生み出す可能性がある。加えて、デジタルバイオ計測の特性を活かして「分子個性と進化能の相関」を示した成果は、今後の酵素進化理論および進化分子工学に大きな影響を与えるものと期待される。社会的意義としては、動的ナノリアクタ技術を活用したオンチップ分子濃縮技術に基づくデジタルバイオ計測の高感度化が挙げられる。これによって、在宅で超高感度バイオ検出を可能とする次世代型デジタルバイオ分析法が拓けた。