CAREER: Design, Synthesis and Application of Self-Assembled ABC Nanofibers

职业：自组装ABC纳米纤维的设计、合成及应用

• 批准号: 0645474
• 负责人: Jeffrey Hartgerink
• 金额: $ 55万
• 依托单位: William Marsh Rice University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2007
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2007-07-01 至 2012-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0645474&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: CAREER; Design; Synthesis; Application; Self

This award from the Biomaterials program in the Division of Materials Research to William Marsh Rice University is to study four peptide based, biomimetic self-assembling nanofibrous scaffolds, which provide mechanical strength and have controlled nanostructure. These nanofibrous scaffolds can be grouped based on the predominant peptide secondary structure found within each nanofiber. The first nanofiber is composed of Alpha-helical coiled-coils which self-assemble into a nanofibrous network under the proper conditions and with the appropriately designed amino acid sequence. These fibers have structural similarities to intermediate filaments such as the keratins. The second and third categories of nanofiber are composed of Beta-sheets and can be further subdivided into parallel and anti-parallel organization. These have structural similarities to the cross-beta spine organization of amyloid fibers. The fourth nanofiber has the same characteristic secondary structure and triple-helical organization as Collagen. These fibers allow the controlled placement of chemical functionality at the nanometer scale and are designed to have uniquely responsive and adaptive properties. This control over chemical functionality in a nanostructured environment makes them uniquely suited as biomimetic scaffolds for tissue regeneration. Fiber morphology is ubiquitous in nature. Some of the major biological nanofibers include actin filaments, intermediate filaments, microtubules and collagen. These fibers provide the structural organization and mechanical integrity of individual cells and, in the case of extracellular matrix proteins like collagen, of whole tissues. They also play critical roles in the transport of molecules, cell division and cell motility. Understanding these types of materials and specifically being able to create synthetic mimics of them is a highly desirable goal from both the perspective of enhancing our understanding of biological systems and from the perspective of nanotechnology. The design, synthesis, characterization and biological application of these materials are part of an integrated research, teaching and outreach plan which will: 1) advance the cutting edge of our understanding of peptide folding and self-assembly; 2) help to elucidate the role of nanostructure in biological recognition and response; 3) push forward the boundaries of tissue engineering scaffold design; 4) be used to train post doctoral, graduate and undergraduate students in advanced interdisciplinary research which combines chemistry, biology and materials science; and 5) be used as a platform for outreach to under-represented secondary school students - and their teachers - in the greater Houston area demonstrating many of the current topics in science including nanotechnology, stem cell biology and bioengineering.

该奖项由材料研究部的生物材料项目授予威廉·马什·赖斯大学，旨在研究四种基于多肽的仿生自组装纳米纤维支架，这些支架提供机械强度并具有可控的纳米结构。这些纳米纤维支架可以根据每个纳米纤维中发现的主要多肽二级结构进行分组。第一个纳米纤维是由α螺旋螺旋线圈组成的，这些螺旋线圈在适当的条件下通过适当设计的氨基酸序列自组装成纳米纤维网络。这些纤维在结构上与角蛋白等中间纤维相似。第二类和第三类纳米纤维由Beta-Sheet组成，并可进一步细分为平行组织和反平行组织。这些结构与淀粉样纤维的交叉贝塔脊椎组织有相似之处。第四纳米纤维具有与胶原蛋白相同的特征二级结构和三螺旋结构。这些纤维允许在纳米尺度上控制化学功能的放置，并具有独特的响应性和适应性。这种对纳米结构环境中化学功能的控制使其特别适合作为组织再生的仿生支架。纤维形态在自然界中普遍存在。一些主要的生物纳米纤维包括肌动蛋白细丝、中间细丝、微管和胶原。这些纤维提供单个细胞的结构组织和机械完整性，对于像胶原这样的细胞外基质蛋白，则提供整个组织的结构组织和机械完整性。它们还在分子运输、细胞分裂和细胞运动中发挥关键作用。无论是从加强我们对生物系统的理解的角度，还是从纳米技术的角度来看，理解这些类型的材料并特别能够创造出它们的合成仿制品都是一个非常可取的目标。这些材料的设计、合成、表征和生物应用是综合研究、教学和推广计划的一部分，该计划将：1)促进我们对多肽折叠和自组装的理解的前沿；2)帮助阐明纳米结构在生物识别和响应中的作用；3)推动组织工程支架设计的边界；4)用于培养博士后、研究生和本科生进行结合化学、生物和材料科学的高级交叉研究；以及5)作为一个平台，向大休斯顿地区代表性不足的中学生及其教师展示许多当前科学领域的主题，包括纳米技术、干细胞生物学和生物工程。