Ultrafast Spectroscopic Studies DNA Nanostructures for All Optical Voltage Sensing
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Cambridge
Department Name: Physics
Abstract
All optical voltage sensing of voltage or potentials across membranes or in neurons is an important tool for understanding a range of problems in biophysics. However, traditional voltage sensitive dyes take can take several us to react to changes in potential. In this project we combine the power of ultrafast spectroscopy with artificial nanostructures based on DNA origami, to develop a new generation of voltage sensors with sub-ps response and sub 10meV voltage sensitivity.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Ulrich Keyser (Primary Supervisor) | |
| Raj Pandya (Student) |
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP/N509620/1 | 01/10/2016 | 30/09/2022 | |||
| 1805376 | Studentship | EP/N509620/1 | 01/10/2016 | 31/03/2020 | Raj Pandya |
| Description | We have developed a deeper understanding of how biololgically relevant pigments are able to effectively transfer energy and the key role played by the environment they are hosted in. In addition we have worked on new ways to use dye molecules that are readily accessible for concentration of sunlight too boost the efficacy of solar cells. We have also studied inorganic nanostructures and learnt about the fundamental quantum mechanical properties (vibrations and spin) that govern their effective light emission. More recently we have learnt how to direct high value chemical reactions with a laser pulse and a new mechanism for long range energy transport. Our work on voltage sensing has progressed to using colloidal nanoparticles for real time imaging of the action potiential of live biological cells. We have also now developed tools for universally imaging the flow of carriers (ions, heat, charges, etc) in materials on the relevant and time and length scales. This technique is based around scattering microscopy and is being applied to a diverse range of problems from the study of degradation in battery materials through to helping understand the operation of bioelectronic devices. |
| Exploitation Route | Our studies of energy transport will hopefully open up a new paradigm for considering long range energy propagation and inspire the design of materials based on a new set of design rules. The work on voltage sensing will allow for the design of new bio-sensors for understanding key neurochemical processes. The development of new optical tools based on scattering microscopy will allow us to move towards universal, label free imaging of carrier motion. |
| Sectors | Chemicals,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Electronics,Energy,Environment,Healthcare |
| Description | Some of our work on transfer between comercial dyes is being used to develop new luminescent solar concentrators for effective light harvesting. The voltage sensors we have developed are being used for novel imaging of neuronal dynamics. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2020 |
| Sector | Energy,Healthcare,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
| Impact Types | Economic |
| Title | Data associated with: Exciton Diffusion in Highly-Ordered One Dimensional Conjugated Polymers: Effects of Back- Bone Torsion, Electronic Symmetry, Phonons and Annihilation |
| Description | Origin work book containing absorption spectra, transient absorption data, transient absorption microscopy (TAM) data and associated mean-square displacement plots. Fluence dependent data is also included as well as modelling. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/325167 |
| Title | Raw data associated with manuscript under review: Optical projection and spatial separation of entangled triplet-pairs from the 2Agstate of pi-conjugated systems |
| Description | Absorption spectrum of polydiacetylene (PDA) as a function of polarisation angle. Pump probe spectrum of PDA in all parallel configuration. Genetic algorithm decomposition of spectrum and kinetics. Pump energy dependence of 2Ag lifetime. Pump push probe spectra of PDA, line narrowing of triplet pair state in PDA. Pump probe and pump push probe spectra of carotenoid, astraxanathin both isolated and in aggregate form. Push time of 200 fs and 500 fs. Inside zip is the matlab code used to simulate the pump probe and pump push spectra. The codes are fully labelled and commented such as to run them. The file PPPsim.m should be run for the PDA simulations and PPPsimAXT.m for the AXT simulations the codes will find the necessary files if they are all in the same folder. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Title | Research data supporting Optical and electronic properties of colloidal CdSe quantum rings |
| Description | Raw data underlying publication. Includes femtosecond transient absorption maps, picosecond transient absorption maps, absorption and emission data. The pump-probe data was generated using a custom setup as detailed in the methods of the paper. The data was processed and analysed used a custom matlab program and then plotted in Origin to generate the figures. The absorption and emission data are generated from measurement techniques described in the methods section of the paper using comercial instruments. The raw data is processed and plotted in the Origin graphing program. The data set contains all the raw data associated with these figures, including appropriate column designations. The data submitted is raw and unprocessed. Analysis methods are shown and can be obtained in the main text. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/315791 |