INTRODUCTION FOCUS Synthesis Recognition - IMRE

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INTRODUCTION
Biomimetic science is an emerging research area that is seeing
growing academic and commercial interests. With new advances
and convergence in nanotechnology and molecular biology,
biomimetics is now entering a new era whereby materials can be
engineered at the ‘molecular’ level with high precision and
inherent biological functions.
The Bioinspired Materials Lab (BML) in IMRE is a crossdisciplinary research laboratory which aims to develop new
biologically-inspired materials and platform technologies that
minimize energy consumption, reduce ecological footprint, and to
improve sustainable living for all. In particular, the lab focuses on
deciphering the synthetic design principles of biological building
blocks by emulating the intrinsic functions of living systems in
directing 1) nanomaterial synthesis, 2) biomolecular recognition
and 3) self-assembly processes to engineer next generation
multifunctional materials and smart devices for a vast spectrum of
technological applications.
Hybrid BioInorganic
Nanomaterial
Synthesis
BioFunctionalization
and Molecular
Recognition
FOCUS
Biogenic Photoluminescent Nanoclusters & Applications
Biogenic luminescent metal nanoclusters (NCs) templated by
rationally designed biomolecules represent a new class of
fluorescent nanomaterials that have both biocompatibility and
excellent photostability for biomedical applications. We have
established the first systematic investigation on the molecular
design principles of nucleic acids to control the formation of
metal NCs with tunable emission color, and to synthetically
endow the NCs with new catalytic properties and anti-microbial
functions. We also use this bioinspired approach to ‘turn’ the
protein into bioactive fluorescent sensors without genetically
encoding the biomolecules.
Major applications
Biosensing and clinical diagnostics, cellular imaging and targeted
delivery, antimicrobial and toxin Inhibition, ROS detection,
wound healing, drug screening , etc.
(A)
Biomoleculardirected Nano/
Supramolecular
Assembly
(B)
Building biomolecular ‘toolbox’ towards customisable
bioinspired materials design and synthesis- focuses on
establishing the fundamental design rules of biomolecular
templates for the synthesis of intricate nanostructures with unique
biological and tunable physiochemical properties, which results in
low energy use and environmental impact.
Developing versatile biosensors through bioregconition
and functionalisation by coupling highly specific molecular
recognition elements onto synthetic sensing probes to convert
‘invisible’ biological responses into easily measurable /observable
outputs for point-of-care diagnostics, high-throughput drug
screening and environmental monitoring.
Design of smart self-assembling hybrid materials that can
organize into functionally complex architectures and direct the
programmable assembly of hetero-nanostructures to build smart
materials and devices with improved performance for medicine
(e.g., bioactive drug carrier), energy (peptide-assembled solar cell),
and electronic (e.g., DNA logic gate).
(C)
Biomolecular-templated synthesis of multifunctional fluorescent metal nanoclusters for a
wide range of applications: (A) Protein-AuNCs for molecular drug screening; (B)
Controlled-release DNA-AgNCs with photoluminescent, antibacterial and toxin inhibition
properties; (C) customized peptide-templated AuNCs for site-specific cellular imaging.
“Learning from NATURE, Creating New BIOINSPIRED MATERIALS for MANKIND “
3 Research Link, Singapore 117602 • Tel +65 6874 8111 • Fax +65 6872 0785 [email protected] • www.imre.a-star.edu.sg
Achievement
• Label-free, simple-to-use, and rapid nanosensors to
detect a wide range of analytes and for studying important
biomolecular interactions, such as gene transcription, DNA
mutation and enzymatic reaction
(5 patents filed & 1 licensed - ColoQuik™ testing kits).
Selected Research Publications
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Selected Patents
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Tan, YN; Su, X. “Method for Determining Protein-Nucleic
Acid Interactions.” US Patent Application No. 13/377,819;
Singapore G Patent No. 176200; PCT Patent Application No.
PCT/SG2010/000196 (Granted & Licensed)
Tan, YN; Su, X. “Method for Detecting DNA-Binding
Proteins.” Singapore Patent Application No. 201206300-4; US
Patent Application, 13/573,142
Tan, YN; Su, X. “An Enzymatic Metal Nanoparticles Sensor for
Detecting DNA Binder.” Singapore Patent No. 201206148-7;
US Patent Application No. 13/968,930
Tan, YN; Lim, YC; Su, X. “Two-way Free Radical and
Antioxidant sensors using Redox-Responsive Fluorescent
Metal Nanoclusters.” Singapore Patent No. 201304947-3.
Tan, YN; New, SY; Su, X. “Protein-based Fluorescent Metal
Nanoclusters for Drug Screening.” Singapore Patent No.
201306645-1
Tan, YN; Lim, YC; Wang, C; Zhang LH. “Method of Forming
Controlled-Release Silver Nanocluster with Photoluminescent,
Antimicrobial and Toxin Inhibition Properties.” Singapore
Patent No. 201307789-6
Yung, Y.; Luo, Z.; Teo, C.S.; Tan, Y. N.*; Xie, J.* (*cocorresponding author) “Tailoring the Protein Conformation to
Synthesize Different-Sized Gold Nanoclusters” Chem. Comm.,
2013, 49, 9740-9742
Tan, Y. N.; Lee, K. H.; Su, X. “Study DNA Design Dependency
of Segmented DNA-Induced Gold Nanoparticle Aggregation
towards the Design of Bioassay for Detecting DNA-Binding
Proteins” RCS Advances, 2013, 3, 21604-21612
Tan, YN; Lee, KH; Su, X. “Study of Single-stranded DNA
Binding Protein-Nucleic Acid Interactions using Unmodified
Gold Nanoparticles and Its Application for Detection of Single
Nucleotide Polymorphisms.” Anal. Chem., 2011, 83, 4251–
4257
Tan, YN; Su, X.; Zhu, Y; Lee, JY. “Sensing of Transcription
Factor through Controlled-Assembly of Metal Nanoparticles
Modified with Segmented DNA Elements.” ACS Nano, 2010, 4,
5101–5110
Tan, YN; Lee, JY; Wang, DIC. “Uncovering the Design Rules
for Peptide Synthesis of Metal Nanoparticles.” J. Am. Chem.
Soc., 2010, 132, 5677-5686
Tan, YN; Su, X; Liu, ET; Thomsen, JS. “Gold-NanoparticleBased Assay for Instantaneous Detection of Nuclear Hormone
Receptor−Response Elements Interactions.” Anal. Chem., 2010,
82, 2759-2765
Xie, J; Tan, YN; Lee, JY. “Biological and Biomimetic Syntheses
of Metal Nanomaterials.” in Bio-mimetic and Bio-inspired
Nanomaterials for Life Sciences, Weinheim: Wiley-VCH Verlag
GmbH & Co. KGaA., 2010, 251-282
Research Team and Collaborators
Dr Tan Yen Nee
[email protected]
Dr Su Xiaodi
[email protected]
Yu Yong
[email protected]
Dr Song Jing
songj @imre.astar.edu.sg
Geng Junlong
gengjl @imre.astar.edu.sg
Dr Bai Shiqiang
bais @imre.astar.edu.sg
Head
Dr Li Kai
[email protected]
3 Research Link, Singapore 117602 • Tel +65 6874 8111 • Fax +65 6872 0785 [email protected] • www.imre.a-star.edu.sg
June 2014
Biofunctionalized sensing probes & controlled-assembly
Biofunctionalised metal nanoparticles (mNPs) are powerful sensing
probes due to their unique interparticle distance-dependent
optical properties that arise from localised surface plasmons
resonance. Our efforts in this area are focused on developing biodirected assembly strategies for biomolecular detection based on
the 1) plasmonic coupling (color change), 2) fluorescent quenching
and 3) light scattering properties of mNPs in homogenous
solution. Through versatile bioassays design, these metalnanoprobes can be readily adapted in a point-of-care and on-site
detection format, which could culminate into tangible products
useful for basic sciences, medical diagnostics, drug screening and
industrial processes.

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