Development of Stimuli-Responsive Nanoscale Molecular Systems Mimicking Biological Systems

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16H04129
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Functional solid state chemistry
• Research Institution: Tokyo Institute of Technology
• Principal Investigator: Kinbara Kazushi 東京工業大学, 生命理工学院, 教授 (30282578)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: 二分子膜 / イオンチャネル / 分子機械 / 相転移 / ヒステリシス / メカノセンシティブチャネル

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Inspired by the structure of a protein contained in a cell membrane, functional amphiphilic molecules having a backbone with alternately connected hydrophilic and hydrophobic parts are designed, and their synthetic routes have been established. The designed molecules showed unique response to external thermal or physical stimuli to change its assembling structures, and resulted in the changes of their physical properties.

Free Research Field

有機化学，超分子化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の成果は，細胞内でタンパク質により行われている様々なセンシング，例えば温度センシングや力学センシングを，人工分子でも実現できることを示した先駆的な結果であり，ナノメートルサイズの微小センサーを構築する分子設計を可能とする，大きなブレークスルーをもたらすことが期待される。