title: Membrane media create small nanospaces for molecular computation.
abstract: Molecular computation is fashionable because of the small device sizes that should be possible. For instance, information processing in nanospaces is widespread in biology. However, experimental cases with computing molecules occupy rather large volumes until now (ca. 1012 nm3). Now we demonstrate small-scale computation using a designed logic gate in spheres of 3 nm radius (volume = ca. 102 nm3) which are produced by detergent micelles. The logic gate accommodated in the small nanospace fluoresces only when both H+ and Na+ ions are available.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry, Queen's University, Belfast BT9 5AG, UK. s.uchiyama@qub.ac.uk
authors.forename: Seiichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uchiyama
authors.forename: Gareth D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: McClean
authors.forename: Kaoru
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Iwai
authors.forename: A Prasanna
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: de Silva
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D039301:Computers, Molecular; D004867:Equipment Design; D005453:Fluorescence; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008823:Micelles; D015394:Molecular Structure; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D012964:Sodium / Q000737:chemistry; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate / Q000737:chemistry; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008823:Micelles; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate; D012964:Sodium; C028913:dodecyl sulfate; C027917:tetramethylammonium