Using nanomaterials to map biomolecular processes

ANYL 307

Geoffrey F. Strouse, Department of Chemistry, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Tallahassee, FL 32306
Nanomaterials are changing the way many scientists approach problems in science. Nanomaterials based on semiconductors, metals and polymer bead-nano composites have found applications in bio-assays, biosensors, biomolecular rulers and dynamic trackers of biomolecular processess. Even the Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) distance barrier, typically less than 100 Å, has fallen to the use of nanometals as energy acceptors via NSET methodoologies. The presentation will explore the aplication of emissive nanomaterials and non-emissive nanomaterials in applications for bio-sensors and molecular rulers to look “outside the box”, whether that box is traditional FRET or assay methods. The use of such materials allow us to probe structural and dynamic changes on distance scales not previously accessible.