| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/R55573/01 |
| Title: |
A Model Molecular Pump |
| Principal Investigator: |
Ryan, Professor AJ |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Chemistry |
| Organisation: |
University of Sheffield |
| Scheme: |
ROPA |
| Starts: |
18 March 2002 |
Ends: |
17 March 2004 |
Value (£): |
134,021
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Biological & Medicinal Chem. |
Chemical Synthetic Methodology |
| Materials Characterisation |
Materials Synthesis & Growth |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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A basic component of soft nanotechnology, a molecular pump, will be constructed. It is based on macromolecules responding to their environment and comprises a polyelectrolyte gel as the motive element and valves that have opposite sign, the whole assembly being driven by a chemical reaction that oscilates pH. The valves are based on polycation and polyanion brushes that cover a series of holes in nucleopore membranes, the motor is a polyelectrolyte gel that we have already demonstrated. the response of the molecules to changes in an aqueous environment (pH) will be characterised both microscopically, by optical techniques, and molecularly, by force microscopy, spectroscopy and scattering. An autonomous pump driven by an oscillating chemical reaction will be used to transport a macromolecular solute from a region of low concentration to a region of high concentration, that is against the diffusive flux. The device developed will demonstrate the feasibility of the concept and may find applications in prototypical drug delivery devices.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.shef.ac.uk |