DARPA asks Battelle for microsystems that control biological functions and possibly create artificial cells

Summary points:

• Battelle will explore controlling biological functions with microsystems and molecular catalysts.
• MICA aims to develop artificial nonliving cells capable of sensing, self-repair, and information processing by mimicking biological and electronic interactions.
• Focus is on integrating molecules with microsystems, emphasizing simulation, catalyst placement, and compatibility with microelectronics like FPGAs and CMOS circuits.

ARLINGTON, Va. – U.S. military researchers needed ways to control biological functions using microsystems and molecular catalysts. They found a solution from the Battelle Memorial Institute in Columbus, Ohio.

Officials of the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in Arlington, Va., announced a $10.3 million contract to Battelle last week for the Microsystem Induced Catalysis (MICA) project.

Military researchers may use this kind of research in future projects to design nonliving artificial cells able to carry out functions of living cells for sensing, information processing, and self-repair.

The military could use this technology to create sensitive biosensors for detection of biological threats; to develop autonomous systems that process biological information efficiently with low energy use; enable therapeutic or augmentation devices that function at molecular and cellular levels; and facilitate self-repairing or adaptive mechanisms in equipment through biological integration.

Microsystems control biology

Electron flow in transistors sometimes are similar to molecular flows in biochemical reactions in living cells, and their similarities suggest that cells and electronic components could interact in a predictable and controllable way.

For the MICA program, Battelle experts will focus on using microsystems to control biological functions, and will carry out hardware demonstrations of molecular catalysts immobilized to microsystem surfaces and controlled by physical forces generated by the microsystem.

Battelle also will focuses on modeling and simulation of such integrated molecular microsystems, with an emphasis on biomolecular catalysts.

MICA centers on how microsystems can control molecules; how microsystem physics can drive catalyst function; and how co-design approaches can integrate microsystems and molecules.

Tell me more about how electron flow in transistors is similar to molecular flows in biochemical reactions in living cells ... 

• Transistors and cells, for example, use input signals to control the flow of information or energy through a system. They both regulate the direction and flow of components through well-defined pathways based on control inputs. Transistors and cells perform logic operations through networks that integrate several inputs to produce controlled outputs. Both need energy to sustain and control flows through active mechanisms.

The MICA program's design and simulation portion will include ways to predict the dynamic performance of molecules integrated with microsystems. The project's fabrication portion will include ways to place and immobilize molecules at microsystem interfaces to help the microsystem control catalyst activity.

A major thrust is placing and attaching catalytic molecules to microsystems to drive biological function. The program will emphasize compatibility with standard microelectronics manufacturing.

Approaches should include how to predict molecule structure and function, and how to couple to a field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and CMOS digital logic circuits.

For more information contact Battelle Memorial Institute online at www.battelle.org, or DARPA at www.darpa.mil/research/programs/microsystem-induced.