"Bricks and mortar" assembly of nanoparticles using polymers and biopolymers

COLL 115

Vincent M. Rotello, Department of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003
Self-assembly is an essential process in biological systems, providing the diverse range of highly ordered structures including protein, DNA, RNA, and cellular architecture observed in living organisms. Adaptation of self-assembly processes to the controlled aggregation of nanoparticles provides a useful method for the creation of new higher-order architectures. In our research, we have developed a polymer-mediated 'Bricks and Mortar' strategy for self-assembly of nanoparticles. In recent studies, we have found that proteins can also be used to promote this assembly process, providing direct access to structured nanocomposites. We will report our recent studies using both synthetic and biological 'mortars'.