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

该奖项来自William Marsh Rice大学材料研究部的生物材料项目，旨在研究四种基于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基于每个支架内发现的主要肽二级结构进行分组。第一个螺旋由α-螺旋卷曲螺旋组成，其在适当的条件下自组装成纳米纤维网络，并具有适当设计的氨基酸序列。这些纤维与中间纤维如角蛋白具有结构相似性。第二类和第三类结构由β-片层组成，可以进一步细分为平行和反平行结构。这些与淀粉样纤维的交叉β棘组织具有结构相似性。第四层具有与胶原蛋白相同的特征性二级结构和三螺旋组织。这些纤维允许在纳米尺度上控制化学功能的放置，并被设计为具有独特的响应和适应性。这种在纳米结构环境中对化学功能的控制使它们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丝、中间丝、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，并且在细胞外基质蛋白如胶原蛋白的情况下，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。了解这些类型的材料，特别是能够创造它们的合成模拟物，无论是从提高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，都是一个非常理想的目标。这些材料的设计、合成、表征和生物学应用是一个综合研究、教学和推广计划的一部分，该计划将：1）推进我们对肽折叠和自组装的前沿理解; 2）有助于阐明纳米结构在生物识别和反应中的作用; 3）推进组织工程支架设计的边界; 4）用于培养博士后，研究生和本科生在先进的跨学科研究，结合化学，生物学和材料科学;和5）被用作一个平台，为代表不足的中学生-和他们的老师-在大休斯顿地区展示了许多当前的科学主题，包括纳米技术，干细胞生物学和生物工程。

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.