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H2020Doctoral network2018–2022

DNA-Robotics · DNA-Based Modular Nanorobotics

Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Duration
2018-01-01 → 2022-06-30
EU contribution
€3,979,633
Participants
12
Scheme
MSCA-ITN

Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.

Results in brief

DNA-Based Modular Nanorobotics

Robots are everywhere. They mow your lawn, vacuum your floor and make your new car, just to mention a few examples. No matter their function, they all consist of sensors and actuators and they are currently transforming the way we work and live. The DNA-Robotics consortium have aimed to bring robots into the nanometer scale and have taken the first steps towards the use of molecular robots in future medical and technological applications. In DNA-Robotics we have taken advantage of DNA’s sequence programmability to design self-assembling structural and functional modules that have been combined to perform certain functions. In essence, DNA can be designed and used for building into any arbitrary shape and structure at the nanoscale, and the designed structures can in the future be combined and integrated into even more complex systems. With this in mind, leading European research groups in the field of DNA nanotechnology collaborated to exploit the advantages of DNA programmability and have taken the field to the next level by developing the field of DNA robotics. Each of the research groups had expert knowledge within different topics ranging from physics over chemistry to molecular biology and this combination have created a synergy effect, which have both increased the impact and interdisciplinarity of the project. To achieve the goal of creating modules for a DNA-based robot, we divided the project into different work packages, as describe below: - Integrative structural design - Programming and signal transfer - Sensing and signalling - Actuation - Translocation In addition to the design of different modules for the above functions, we combined the modules and explored the integrated function in a biological setting. An integral and very important part of the DNA-Robotics project have been the education of 15 early stage researchers (ESRs). For a period of 36 months, the ESRs have been working at seven different locations with one of the nine principal investigators as their mentor and supervisor. During their employment, the network have ensured that they been offered high-quality training, which have included network training events, secondments within the network, and participation in scientific conferences in addition to the predefined hands-on training project at their home institution.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

Robotic systems essentially comprise sensors and actuators connected to and coordinated by an information-processing unit. These principles apply to the human scale robotic systems that currently transform the way we work and live. With DNA-Based Modular Robotics (DNA-Robotics) we will take the first steps to scale advanced robotic behavior to the molecular scale for future medical and technological applications. DNA-Robotics brings together the leading research groups in DNA nanotechnology in Europe to collectively develop an integrated and modular robotic platform and demonstrate applications of the novel technology. DNA-based construction is a natural modular platform, which via the programmability of sequence design and self-assembly allows different structural and functional motifs to be flexibly combined. DNA modules will be developed with a range of novel functions for sensing, actuation and intra-system communication and computing, implementing all of the typical components required for a robotic system at the molecular level. Our overall goal is the creation of the first “industry standard” for modular robotics by the establishment of a modular “plug-and-play” platform that allows the construction of custom-made nanorobots for advanced applications in research and industry. The ESRs will be trained in and develop functional modules that in close collaboration among the ESRs and Partners will be assembled to advanced molecular robots. The highly interdisciplinary research and training program will exploit the synergy between the different competences of the Partners. The innovative and applied focus is supported by the involvement of the company ATDBio as Beneficiary and five companies as Partner Organization that will also provide complementary skills training and intersectoral exposure of the ESRs. This proposal takes the first steps for future application of nanoscale robots in research and industry and will train future generations of researchers in this field.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

  • AARHUS UNIVERSITET · Aarhus CCoordinatorDenmark
  • AFFIBODY AB · SolnaSweden
  • ATDBIO LIMITED · Southampton HampshireUnited Kingdom
  • AUTODESK · ParisFrance
  • BASECLICK GMBH · NeuriedGermany
  • KAROLINSKA INSTITUTET · STOCKHOLMSweden
  • LGC Biosearch Technologies · RisskovUnknown Region
  • LUDWIG-MAXIMILIANS-UNIVERSITAET MUENCHEN · PlaneggGermany
  • MICROSOFT RESEARCH LIMITED · CambridgeUnited Kingdom
  • TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET MUENCHEN · MuenchenGermany
  • THE CHANCELLOR, MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD · OxfordUnited Kingdom
  • UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI ROMA TOR VERGATA · RomaItaly

Links

Data: CORDIS, © European Union