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

该奖项由威廉·马什·莱斯大学材料研究部生物材料项目颁发，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根据在每个纳米纤维中发现的主要肽二级结构进行分组。第一种纳米纤维是由α螺旋线圈组成的，在适当的条件和适当设计的氨基酸序列下，它们自组装成纳米纤维网络。这些纤维在结构上与中间纤维如角蛋白相似。第二类和第三类纳米纤维由β -薄片组成，可进一步细分为平行组织和反平行组织。它们在结构上与淀粉样纤维的交叉-脊椎组织相似。第四种纳米纤维具有与胶原蛋白相同的特征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，并被设计成具有独特的响应和自适应特性。这种对纳米结构环境中化学功能的控制使得它们非常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、微管和胶原蛋白。这些纤维提供了单个细胞的结构组织和机械完整性，在细胞外基质蛋白如胶原蛋白的情况下，提供了整个组织的结构组织和机械完整性。它们在分子运输、细胞分裂和细胞运动中也起着关键作用。无论是从增强我们对生物系统的理解还是从纳米技术的角度来看，理解这些类型的材料，特别是能够创造出它们的合成模拟物，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，它将：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)培养化学、生物学和材料科学相结合的高级跨学科研究的博士后、研究生和本科生；5)作为一个平台，向大休斯顿地区代表性不足的中学生和他们的老师展示当前科学领域的许多主题，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.