Novel Bioactive Inorganic Materials

该项目的目的是稳定无机层状材料中的酶，并对酶-固体相互作用有详细的了解。这项研究对于合理设计新材料以最大化酶的功能以应用于生物催化，植入物，人造器官和生物传感器（国土安全）至关重要。酶的工业/实验室使用受到严重限制，部分原因是酶对pH值、温度和有机溶剂不稳定。在固体中嵌入酶可以克服这些限制，但嵌入酶会导致活性的显著丧失。本研究的目标是提供一个系统的酶固体材料的调查，需要填补这一知识空白。我们将使用一种新颖的、可逆的、稳健的方法（拴系血红素方法）将酶嵌入固体中，并使用最先进的微热量和光谱方法对它们进行评估。在材料合成、蛋白质结构、酶动力学、微量热、衰减全反射-傅立叶变换红外光谱（ATR-FTIR）等方面，将对研究生、本科生、高中生和外国访问学者进行培训。我们将参与面向幼儿的“孩子也是科学家”外展项目；高中资优学生的“导师联系”；以及NSF REU化学项目。我们将在网上（http://jasmin.chem.uconn.edu）为研究生和本科生发布教育材料。酶直接或间接地负责体内大多数关键的生化过程。将酶用于工业/实验室应用的令人兴奋的可能性受到严重限制，因为酶的数量极低，价格昂贵，而且它们很容易失活。由此产生的新知识，从这个项目将是必不可少的新材料的设计，以最大限度地发挥酶的功能。嵌入酶的一些应用将包括但不限于生物催化、植入物、人造器官和生物传感器（用于国土安全）

The aims of this project are to stabilize enzymes in inorganic layered materials, and to develop a detailed understanding of enzyme-solid interactions. This research is crucial for the rational design of new materials to maximize enzyme function for application in biocatalysis, implants, artificial organs, and biosensors (homeland security). Industrial/laboratory use of enzymes is severely limited, due partly to enzyme instability towards pH, temperature, and organic solvents. Enzymes embedded in solids can overcome some of these limitations, but embedding of enzymes results in significant loss of activity. The goal of this research is to provide a systematic investigation of enzyme-solid materials needed to fill this knowledge gap. We will use a novel, reversible, and robust methodology (tethered-heme approach) to embed enzymes in solids, and evaluate them using state-of-the-art micro-calorimetric and spectroscopic methods. Graduate, undergraduate, high school students, and visiting foreign scholars will be trained in material synthesis, protein structure, enzyme kinetics, micro-calorimetry, and attenuated total reflectance - Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). We will participate in the outreach programs, "Kids are Scientists Too" for young children; the "Mentor Connection" for gifted high school students; and the NSF REU program in Chemistry. We will post educational materials on the web http://jasmin.chem.uconn.edu) for graduate and undergraduate students.%%%Enzymes are responsible, directly or indirectly, for most of the key biochemical processes in the body. The exciting possibility of using enzymes for industrial/laboratory applications is severely limited due to the fact that enzymes are available in extremely low quantities, are expensive, and they are deactivated very readily. The resulting new knowledge from this project will be essential for the design of novel materials to maximize enzyme function. Some applications of embedded enzymes would include, but not be limited to, biocatalysis, implants, artificial organs, and biosensors (for homeland security).***