CAREER: Self-Assembling Dendrimers: Functional Architectures that Bridge Chemistry and Biology

在有机和大分子化学计划的职业奖的支持下，亚利桑那大学化学系的Indraneel Ghosh教授将开展与合成和表征由螺旋肽基序组成的对称支化分子的新类别相关的基础研究。 自组装树枝状分子的化学结构将被设计成模块化和灵活的，允许从纳米到微米长度尺度的多价和多价组装体的理化研究。 这些对称的分子，同时回答分级自组装的基本问题，将导致多价蛋白质复合物和先进的生物材料的合理设计。因此，这项工作将影响新兴技术，如多价靶向，控释，组织工程和催化剂支持。广阔的研究平台将导致必要的研究技能和科学知识的发展，为研究生和本科生在不断发展的化学/生物学接口。 研究和教育将进一步整合在夏季研究计划中，用于培训和指导代表性不足的高中学生。 因此，本职业建议中描述的研究和教育目标将为所有教育水平的熟练科学家提供培训，同时为他们提供必要的指导，使他们在未来的职业生涯中取得成功。

With the support of this CAREER Award from the Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry Program, Professor Indraneel Ghosh, of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Arizona, will carry out fundamental studies related to the synthesis and characterization of new classes of symmetrically branched molecules composed of helical peptide motifs as an organizing element. The chemical architecture of the self-assembling dendrimer-like molecules will be designed to be modular and flexible allowing for the physiochemical investigation of both multivalent and polyvalent assemblies from the nanometer to micrometer length scales. These symmetric molecules, while answering fundamental questions in hierarchical self-assembly, will lead to the rational design of multivalent protein complexes and advanced biomaterials. Thus, this work will impact emerging technologies such as multivalent targeting, controlled release, tissue engineering and catalyst supports.The broad research platform will result in the development of necessary research skills and scientific knowledge for graduate students and undergraduate students at the continuously evolving chemistry/biology interface. Research and education will be further integrated in a summer research program for training and mentoring under-represented high-school students. Thus, the research and educational goals described in this CAREER proposal will provide for the training of skilled scientists at all educational levels, while providing them with the necessary mentorship to be successful in their future professional careers.