Presidential Young Investigator Award: Biopolymer Structural/Functional Relationships in Biochemical Engineering Systems

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This research deals with the study of biopolymer structure, function, and properties as they relate to biochemical engineering principles and operations. Biopolymers include proteins, polynucleic acids, and polysaccharides. The first two groups generally contain structural units with ionizable moieties and are therefore polyelectrolytes. Some polysaccharides are also polyelectrolytes, but most (cellulose, starch, and dextrans) are not charged near neutral pH. The initial phases of the directed research plan of study involves examination of these uncharged biopolymers after the "base cases" are established. Future studies will examine polyelectrolytes.