Biomolecular Materials Program

Mark Alper, Program Leader

The Biomolecular Materials Program involves Principal Investigators: M.D. Alper (Program Leader), A.P. Alivisatos, C.R. Bertozzi, J.M.J. Fréchet, M.B. Francis, P. L. Geissler, and J.T. Groves. Its underlying philosophy is that living organisms perform a wide range of functions and in many cases, the solutions that have evolved in these organisms have advantages over synthetic functions developed in laboratories. Work in the program is focused on the discovery, design, synthesis and characterization of novel materials and the adaptation and use of biological concepts, techniques, structures and molecules in non-biomedical applications. The program has two primary focus areas. In both areas, theory and experiment are closely coupled.

In the first, we have moved beyond single molecules to explore multi-component structural organization of functional units. The other major focus involves controlled modification of surfaces and interfaces. In both areas, proteins, nucleic acids, lipids and carbohydrates are synthesized, modified, organized and combined to create defined structures with interesting and relevant functions.

CURRENT PROJECTS

I. Use of Biological Molecules and their Mimics in the Construction of Complex Structures

(Left) Congugation of mucin mimics with carbon nanotubes and supported lipid bilayers. A) Mucin mimics were end-functionalized with CNT-binding hydrophobic moieties. B) Schematic of a CNT coated with mucin mimics. C) TEM images of coated CNTs. D) Incorporation of lipid-functionalized mucin mimics into SLBs. E) Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching is the result of mucin mimic fluidity in SLBs.

I.A. DNA-Directed ‘Nanocrystal Molecules’: Assembly & Properties (A.P. Alivisatos, J. Fréchet, P. Geissler)
I.B. Protein Scaffolds

I.B.1. Virus Based Structures (M. Francis, P. Geissler, J. DeYoreo)
I.B.2. Bioinspired Polymers as Synthetic Enzyme Mimics (J. Frechet)
I.B.3. Engineering S-layer Proteins to Build Organized Nanostructures (C. Bertozzi)
I.C. Molecular Templates for de novo Synthesis of Carbon Nanotubes with Discrete Chirality (C Bertozzi)

II. Surfaces, Coatings and Interfaces

II.A. Curvature Control of Supported Lipid Membrane Interfaces (J. Groves)
II.B. Design and Synthesis of Complex Carbohydrates for Surface Modification

One pot multiple catalysts with site-isolation by
star polymers with compact catalytic cores.

II.B.1. Mucin Mimics (C. Bertozzi, P. Geissler)
II.B.2. Carbon nanotube and boron nitride nanotube coatings

(C. Bertozzi)

III. Theory (P. Geissler)

Schematic example of nanocrystals arranged into regular patterns through base pairing beween short strands of DNA. Orange and green strands are covalently attached to nanocrystals. The remaining strands are held in place by the strong noncovalent forces that give hybridized DNA its double-helix structure.