Aims and Goals

For revolutions in science and technology to produce improvements in the quality of life, new functional molecules must be invented and functional device technologies must be developed through the oriented assembly of functional molecules. The development of new scientific technology, for example, the technology to create molecular-sized functional devices in which individual molecules possess device functions, is imperative.

The goal of this committee is to create new industries through advances in basic science, technology, and engineering by offering researchers in basic and applied technology fields, as well as industry sector researchers, forums for exchanging information and cooperating on research. The committee aims to link these efforts to the establishment of molecular nanotechnology through the free rendering of atoms and molecules into integrated conjugates and the assembling technology with regulation of molecular orientation, and further the fusion of these strategies with nanotechnology.

Research Themes

1. Bio-nano interfaces: Fusion of LSI and molecules
Development of systems on the nano level to control and monitor the energy conversion via three types of information transmission (electronic, optical, and chemical substances)
Achievement of microchip-level sensor networks through the building of smart micro interface devices with bio-nano structures on silicon LSI microchips and the integration of wireless functions
2. Molecular imaging: Intracellular signaling pathways
Development of non-invasive imaging techniques for analyzing the functions of proteins that contribute to intracellular information transmission and research into biosystems that use these techniques
Development of non-invasive imaging techniques based on chemical properties for specific places inside biological organisms (cancerous tissue, for example) and applications in drug delivery systems
3. Nanohybrid materials: Next-generation composites
Development of composite materials that are hybridizations of organic and inorganic substances and that demonstrate benefits beyond the simple overlapping of individual properties (structural, electronic, optical, and tissue engineering materials)
Use in Cerasome artificial multi-cellular systems and high-performance gene carriers

Committee Chairperson

Shunsaku Kimura

Professor Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University

Duration

October 2011 to September 2016 (Third term, Five years)

Membership Composition

Academia: 29
Industry: 18
Total membership: 47

Committee Web Site

http://pixy.polym.kyoto-u.ac.jp/jsps174/