Directed Organization of Functional Materials at Inorganic-Macromolecular Interfaces

Jim DeYoreo, Principal Investigator

In this project, we are developing a quantitative physical picture of macromolecular organization at nanoscale templates in two systems. The first system utilizes phosopholipid bilayers assembled on Si nanowire surfaces as bionanoelectronic devices. The bilayer produces a barrier against solution species transport to the nanowire and provides an artificial environment for membrane proteins. We will synthesize these structures and perform measurements of lipid and protein mobility and protein clustering. We will assess energetic parameters controlling these processes via kMC models of organization, construct working lipid-nanowire devices, and show how electrochemical response correlates with lipid mobility and organization. The second system utilizes MS2 viruses modified to include light adsorbing centers that comprise FRET pairs as artificial light harvesting complexes. These will be functionalized on their exterior surfaces with DNA linkers and organized by strand complements patterned via scanned probe lithography. The interactions and the resulting organization dynamics will be measured, and kMC models of binding and organization will be used to identify key processes controlling organization. In parallel, FRET efficiency will be correlated with the geometry and degree of organization.