Yong Chen, Ph.D. - US grants

This proposal was received in response to Nanoscale Science and Engineering Initiative, NSF 03-043, category NIRT (Nanoscale Interdisciplinary Research Team). A new nanoscale manufacturing technique - nanoscale electromolecular lithography (NEL) is designed for the fabrication of nanoscale patterns on self-assembled molecular resists by using an electric mask. In this project, the merits of high-speed and scalable top-down engineering techniques will be combined with high-resolution bottom-up self-assembly processes to create a practical, reliable, and robust nano-manufacturing technique for general application. Molecules will be designed and synthesized with specific recognition elements to direct the formation of low-defect, self-assembled molecular monolayers into pre-programmed patterns. A planar NEL mask with nanoscale conductive patterns will be brought into electrical contact with the molecular resist, and an electric field will be applied locally to the molecules. The patterns on the masks will be transferred to the molecular resist by an electrochemical "stamping" process in which the electric field either cleaves a portion of the molecule from the surface or breaks the crosslinks between the molecules.

The essence and the recent explosion of nanotechnology research can be traced directly to advances in the ability to manufacture small nanostructures - as small as ten thousandth the diameter of a human hair reproducibly, reliably, and robustly. Although a wide range of nano-manufacturing techniques has been developed, they all have different intrinsic problems and limitations. This NIRT project plans to create a practical, reliable, and robust nano-manufacturing technique by using electric field generated by small patterns on a mask to write patterns on molecular resists. The advances anticipated from the interdisciplinary efforts are at the pioneering forefronts of chemistry, electrochemistry, and engineering. Given the expertise of the team, there is a plan to apply NEL to the fabrication of nanoscale molecular electric circuits and nanoscale chemical/bio sensors. The confluence of fundamental studies on a problem with commercial potential is the perfect avenue to educate students in state-of-the-art-techniques so that they will become skilled in the advanced practices of their fields. Additionally, the team will support and expand the current efforts of UCLA researchers to introduce high school students to nanotechnology.

The overall goal of this U24 is to operationalize the Center for Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Tissue and Organ Regeneration (C-DOCTOR). Through an integrated series of collaborative planning activities funded during Stage I, eight renowned centers of translational research excellence - UCSF, USC, UCLA, UCB, UCD, UCSD, CoH, and Stanford - have partnered to form a public-private consortium focused on accelerating promising tissue engineering/regenerative medicine therapies for dental, oral, and craniofacial (DOC) tissue to human clinical trials. C-DOCTOR will recruit Interdisciplinary Translational Project (ITP) teams with promising DOC regeneration therapies and then provide scientific, technical, regulatory, financial, and managerial resources necessary to facilitate large animal model studies and promote a cost-effective transition to Stage III. C- DOCTOR will efficiently leverage an extensive array of existing resources that resonate with the Center mission. Three proposed Aims are to: 1) Recruit and select ITP teams that align with our clinical indication priorities; 2) Coordinate and customize our broad resource infrastructure along ITP team needs.; and 3) Cultivate, train, triage, and collaborate with ITP teams to assemble a balanced ITP portfolio ready for Stage III. To accomplish these aims, we will build on our preliminary needs assessment through a strong partnership with our diverse network of C-DOCTOR clinical advisors. We will then adapt best practices from a number of existing innovation programs across our multi-institutional network to select promising therapies with high potential for clinical adoption. C-DOCTOR Resource Directors will match selected ITP teams with domain and resource experts to refine their business case and address their technical needs through interactive collaboration, where continued funding and successful progression through Stage II will be dependent on meeting bi-annual milestones and specific go/no-go decision gates. In this manner, C-DOCTOR will efficiently and deliberately triage from a large number of promising ITPs into active partnership with only those that have maximum likelihood for successful transition through Stage III, which includes an FDA filing and commercial partnering that together support future Phase I clinical testing.