Localization and Transport of Biomolecules on 2D Hexagonal Boron Nitride Surfaces

Master thesis (2022)

Authors

T.H. Cranney Mechanical Engineering

Contributors

S. Caneva Dynamics of Micro and Nano Systems - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering (mentor)
D. Shin QN/Steeneken Lab - AS (graduation committee member)
Faculty
Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering
Copyright: © 2022 Trey Cranney
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Published Date

27-06-2022

Language

English

Reuse Rights

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Faculty

Mechanical Engineering

Abstract

This report will investigate the manipulation of biomolecules on 2D hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) crystal surfaces. The goal of this research is to explore the potential for a device that utilizes the interaction between biomolecules and hBN as a new approach to protein sequencing. Our hypothesis is that molecules adsorbed to hBN surfaces can be unfolded and moved at a controlled velocity through the use of shear horizontal surface acoustic waves. These surface acoustic waves utilize acoustoelectric effects that create forces on polarizable molecules. Until this point, the use of surface acoustic waves for manipulation of molecules has not been explored in the framework of single-molecule sequencing. Along with this, the surface interaction between biomolecules and hBN has been investigated primarily with simulations, while experimental confirmations are still lacking. To address this gap in the field, we conducted experiments to fluorescently image lambda DNA, M13mp18 DNA, and α-synuclein proteins adsorbed to hBN surfaces and analysed their free diffusion behavior. We subsequently designed, fabricated and characterized shear horizontal surface acoustic wave devices compatible with measurements in fluid and with an inverted fluorescence microscopy setup. Here, we studied the behavior of the same molecules adsorbed to an hBN surface when subject to acoustic actuation. It was found that limited diffusion effects were visible for α-synuclein proteins and M13mp18 DNA. However, it was possible to observe fragmented lambda DNA freely diffusing on the hBN surface. When acoustically actuated it was found that α-synuclein proteins and M13mp18 DNA located on the hBN surface could not be manipulated. Lambda DNA molecules that were in contact with the hBN surface could be manipulated through acoustic actuation. These findings open up further research opportunities for the use of shear horizontal waves in manipulation of molecules on 2D material surfaces.