CHED 1588 |
| Mother Nature provides lessons for molecular materials with biological and technological functionalities and allows genetic design-and-engineering. Among the fundamental building blocks in biology, proteins have large information content based on amino acid sequences that lead to specific conformation with predictable recognition. Through molecular biomimetics protocols, peptides are combinatorially selected, followed by genetic tailoring structure-property coupling for more specific functions, including recognition, binding, and assembly, via engineered cycles of evolution. Control of molecular architecture is achieved via multiple repeats, modular conjugation, and fusion for spatial formations with bio-multifunctionality. For practical utility, molecular biology protocols are combined with nanotechnology (nanolithography), genetics (synthetic biology), and modeling (bioinformatics) to create novel hybrid methodologies. Peptide-based molecular constructs have utility as synthesizers, assemblers, and erectors in controlled bioinorganic material fabrication (tissue engineering), engineered biomatrices (cell differentiation), directed (enzyme) immobilization, and designed probes (cancer, infectious, and neurodegenerative diseases) for better lives. Supported by an NSF-MRSEC. |
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Exploring and Exploiting Nature with Biomimetics
8:30 AM-11:45 AM, Tuesday, March 27, 2007 McCormick Place North -- Room N230A, Level 2, Oral
Division of Chemical Education |