NANOMACHINES: A ROADMAP FOR REALIZING THE VISION

Scientists and engineers have anticipated the potential benefits of integrating engineered devices to living systems at the molecular level for many years. Such devices offer the potential of taking advantage of the best attributes associated with both worlds. Hybrid living/non-living systems can potentially possess many of the essential properties of life such as the abilities to “intelligently” self-assemble, repair, and evolve. We will present the results of our efforts to incorporate biological energy transduction processes and cell signaling pathways into engineered nanofabricated devices. In particular, we will illustrate our strategy for fueling, controlling and integrating a recombinant, thermostable F₁-ATPase biomolecular motor with a NEMS to create an engineered hybrid device.