Computational Nanotechnology ↔ Nanobiology

Fullerene Synthesis and Driving Force of Molecular Self-Assembly

The background of nanotechnology is currently the subject of intense debate and some speculation. The fundamental aspect of the overall machinery devoted to getting things going at an incredibly miniaturized scale needs to be reconciled with a more practical aspect of the overall nanoscenario known as molecular manufacturing. The very basic idea of Dr. Mitrasinovic is to stimulate a stronger interplay between the two substantially "confronted worlds" being under the same "roof".

Knowledge provided by nanobiology on bioinformation processes associated with the self-assembly of clathrin and microtubules has led toward identifying the driving force underlying the self-assembly. Interestingly, from symmetry point of view, clathrin and microtubules are twins of the two famous nanostructures, C60 Buckminsterfullerene and nanotubes, respectively. One possible approach based upon using the knowledge from nanobiology (self-assembly of clathrin and microtubules) into molecular nanotechnology (C60 and nanotubes) can be found in the literature. The parallelism is conceivable like relationship between the flight of a bird and the flight of an aircraft: both use wings but in different manners.

Dr. Mitrasinovic has created the following hypothesis: if the driving force of fullerene self-assembly is identified, then, the driving force may influence both the necessary local conditions for fullerene formation and the determination of these conditions. Some work is dedicated toward testing this hypothesis. The outcome could lead toward both the identification of possible zones of formation of the large carbon molecules in plasma and the feasibility of a more efficient fullerene synthesis in terms of higher yields and production rates.