The miniaturization of bulky devices and machines is a process that confronts us on a daily basis. However, nanoscale machines with varied and novel characteristics may also result from the enlargement of extremely small building blocks, namely individual molecules. This bottom-up approach to nanotechnology is already being pursued in information technology, with many other branches about to follow. - Written by a team of experienced authors headed by Vincenzo Balzani, one of the pioneers in the development of molecular machines - Covers such diverse aspects as sensors, memory components, solar energy conversion, biomolecules as molecular machines, and much more - Presented in a lucid style and didactically structured, with both the expert and the newcomer in mind - Includes a glossary of terms and numerous references to the recent literature Be among the first to explore the fascinating possibilities of this future-oriented technology! A must-have for every chemist and materials scientist with an interest in nanotechnology.

This series presents critical reviews of the present position and future trends in modern chemical research. It consists of short and concise reports on chemistry, each written by the world’s renowned experts, and still valid and useful after 5 or 10 years.

The concept of molecular machines in biology has transformed the medical field in a profound way. Many essential processes that occur in the cell, including transcription, translation, protein folding and protein degradation, are all carried out by molecular machines. This volume focuses on important molecular machines whose architecture is known and whose functional principles have been established by tools of biophysical imaging (X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy) and fluorescence probing (single-molecule FRET). This edited volume includes contributions from prominent scientists and researchers who understand and have explored the structure and functions of these machines. This book is essential for students and professionals in the medical field who want to learn more about molecular machines.

Ch. 1. Molecular behavior in biological cells : the bacterial cytoplasm as a model system / Adrian H. Elcock and Andrew S. Thomas -- ch. 2. The light-harvesting apparatus in purple photosynthetic bacteria : introduction to a quantum biological device / Johan Strumpfer [und weitere] -- ch. 3. DNA polymerases : structure, function, and modeling / Tamar Schlick -- ch. 4. Information processing by nanomachines : decoding by the ribosome / Karissa Y. Sanbonmatsu, Scott C. Blanchard and Paul C. Whitford -- ch. 5. Chaperonins : the machines which fold proteins / Del Lucent, Martin C Stumpe and Vijay S Pande -- ch. 6. Muscle and myosin / Ronald S. Rock -- ch. 7. Protein kinases : phosphorylation machines / Elaine E. Thompson, Susan S. Taylor and J. Andrew McCammon -- ch. 8. Computational studies of Na+/H+ antiporter : structure, dynamics and function / Assaf Ganoth, Raphael Alhadeff and Isaiah T. Arkin -- ch. 9. Membrane transporters : molecular machines coupling cellular energy to vectorial transport across the membrane / Zhijian Huang [und weitere] -- ch. 10. ABC transporters / E.P. Coll and D.P. Tieleman -- ch. 11. Sodium-coupled secondary transporters : insights from structure-based computations / Elia Zomot [und weitere] -- ch. 12. Voltage-gated ion channels : the machines responsible for the nerve impulse / Benoit Roux and Francisco Bezanilla -- ch. 13. Voltage-gated channels and the heart / Jonathan R. Silva and Yoram Rudy

Comprehensive look at mechanical molecular devices that mimic the behavior of man-made devices Molecular devices and molecular machines are individual molecules and molecular systems capable of providing valuable device-like functions. Many of them have distinct conventional prototypes and therefore can be identified as technomimetic molecules. The last decade has seen an increasing rate of practical applications of molecular devices and machines, primarily in biomedical and material science fields. Molecular devices: An Introduction to Technomimetics and its Biological Applications focuses on mechanical molecular devices, including the early set of technomimetic molecules. Topics covered include the many simple molecular devices such as container compounds, gearing systems, belts and tubes, and tweezers. It touches upon each molecular machine and discusses in great detail the importance of their applications as well as the latest progress in the fields of chemistry, physics, and biotechnology. Interdisciplinary: Must-have content for physicists, chemists, and biologists Comprehensive: Details an extensive set of mechanical technomimetic molecular devices Thorough: Starts with the fundamental material characterization and finishes with real-world device application Molecular devices: An Introduction to Technomimetics and its Biological Applications is an important book for graduate students, researchers, scientists, and engineers in the fields of chemistry, materials science, molecular physics, engineering, biotechnology, and molecular medicine.

The chapters in this volume describe bottom-up strategies and chronicle cutting-edge advances from several of the world’s leading laboratories engaged in the development of molecular machines. The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2016 was awarded jointly to Jean-Pierre Sauvage, Sir J. Fraser Stoddart and Bernard L. Feringa "for the design and synthesis of molecular machines". Both Jean-Pierre Sauvage and Sir J. Fraser Stoddart have also contributed to this book.

Based on the Solvay conference, which gathers the leading scientists in the field, this monograph collects review articles from the six topics of the conference, while also including comments, discussions and debates obtained during the conference. The issues discussed at this landmark conference were: * Noncovalent Assemblies: Design and Synthesis * Template Synthesis of Catenanes and Rotaxanes * Molecular Machines Based on Catenanes and Rotaxanes * Molecular Machines Based on Non-Interlocking Molecules * Towards Molecular Logics and Artificial Photosynthesis * From Single Molecules to Practical Devices and the authors add their personal views on the future of each of their own research areas. Novel reading for organic, inorganic and polymer chemists, as well as materials scientists.

This book presents an in-depth discussion on molecular electronics in an easy-to-understand manner, aiming at chemists, computer scientists, surface scientists, physicists, and applied mathematicians. Lighter overviews are provided for the science-minded layperson and the high tech entrepreneur in this nanoscale science. The author has included a detailed synthetic chemistry treasure chest, protocols of self-assembling routes for bottom-up fabrication atop silicon platforms, representative current-voltage and memory readouts from molecular devices, and overviews of present architectural and mathematical approaches to programming molecular computing machines. The investment and commercial insertion landscape is painted along with a “Who's Who” in the molecular electronics business space. Advice and forewarnings are provided in a practical yet witty manner for the aspiring academic corporate founder and the business CEO wannabe seeking to establish a high tech company while wading through the idiosyncratic morass of university personalities and university-owned intellectual property.

Life, Hoffman argues, emerges from the random motions of atoms filtered through the sophisticated structures of our evolved machinery. People are essentially giant assemblies of interacting nanoscale machines.

Enthusiasts look forward to a time when tiny machines reassemble matter and process information but is their vision realistic? 'Soft Machines' explains why the nanoworld is so different to the macro-world that we are all familar with and shows how it has more in common with biology than conventional engineering.