Nanostructured Self-Assembly of Bio-Derived and Bio-Inspired Lipid-Based Amphiphiles

纳米材料是具有几纳米大小特征的材料，比人类头发的宽度小几千倍。由于它们可以捕获细菌和病毒等非常小的颗粒，因此它们作为用于过滤的创新先进材料具有巨大的兴趣。此外，对于非常小的颗粒，例如在发动机催化转换器中，催化剂的活性大大增加。最新一代笔记本电脑、电脑和智能手机中使用的硅芯片依赖于增加芯片上晶体管的数量，这是通过减小晶体管特征的尺寸来实现的。此外，纳米颗粒（直径为几纳米的超小颗粒）具有独特的功能，可以用于输送药物和其他治疗分子，因为它们的小尺寸使它们能够渗透到体内的治疗目标并穿透细胞以输送治疗化合物。在我们雄心勃勃的研究项目中，我们将合成创新的纳米结构脂质偶联物（NLCs），其中包含生物来源和生物相容性的脂质，肽和糖连接在一起形成多功能分子。通过连接不同的成分来结合这些天然分子将产生新的结构和功能。我们将利用x射线和先进的显微镜研究熔体中这些材料中纳米级有序结构的形成与温度的关系。这些NLCs中有许多以前没有被研究过，并且将具有独特的和意想不到的性质和功能。特别关注的是那些产生最小特征尺寸的nclc，这些特征尺寸将用于制造用于过滤应用的新型纳米孔膜，以及具有新型涂层和催化性能的纳米图案表面。薄膜将由特殊类型的脂质制成，这些脂质构成极端生物的细胞膜，可以承受极端的pH和温度环境条件（例如在深海喷口附近发现）。我们将使用胶束和囊泡，这是由表面活性剂和脂质在水中形成的超小结构，已经在市场上使用，用于化妆品和医药。分析了生物表面活性剂NLCs的去污性、生物降解性和环保性。最后，这些结构将用于封装和递送模型化合物和抗癌药物，利用纳米颗粒上的肽和糖涂层，利用肿瘤特异性化学触发器，实现对癌细胞的选择性靶向。这是一个前沿项目，它将使用从自然中获得灵感的材料，并利用自然的生物分子功能调色板，在特定条件下进化出最佳性能，从而提供变革性的发现。本项目解决了基于合理控制生物分子自组装的新型生态友好型生物表面活性剂和先进功能纳米材料的重要未满足需求。已建立的职业奖学金将为开发这些令人兴奋的NLC系统提供灵活性，该系统基于利用生物分子自组装创造创新材料的清晰愿景，以解决重大的环境和医疗挑战。

Nanomaterials are materials with features with a size of a few nanometres, thousands of times smaller than the width of a human hair. They are of huge interest as innovative advanced materials with applications in filtration since they can capture very small particles such as bacteria and viruses. In addition, the activity of catalysts is greatly increased for very small particles, as for example in engine catalytic convertors. Silicon chips used in the latest generation of laptops, computers and smart-phones rely on increasing the number of transistors on the chips, which is done by decreasing the size of the transistor features. In addition, nanoparticles (ultra-small particles with a diameter of a few nanometres) have unique functions and can be used to deliver drugs and other therapeutic molecules because of their small size which enables them to permeate towards therapeutic targets in the body and to penetrate cells to deliver therapeutic compounds. In our ambitious research project, we will synthesize innovative classes of nanostructured lipid conjugates (NLCs) containing bio-derived and biocompatible lipids, peptides and sugars linked together into multi-functional molecules. Combining these natural molecules by linking different components will lead to new structures and functions. We will investigate the formation of nanoscale ordered structures in these materials in the melt as a function of temperature using x-rays and advanced microscopes. Many of these NLCs have not been studied before and will have unique and unexpected properties and functions. A particular focus will be on those NLCs which produce the smallest feature sizes which will be used to create new nanoporous membranes for filtration applications and nanopatterned surfaces with novel properties as coatings and for catalysis. Films will be made from unusual types of lipids that form the cell membrane of extremophile organisms which can withstand extreme environmental conditions of pH and temperature (being found for example near deep-sea vents). We will use micelles and vesicles which are ultra-small structures formed by surfactants and lipids in water and which are already on the market, being used in cosmetics and medicine. The detergency properties, biodegradability and eco-friendly nature of the biosurfactant NLCs will be analysed. Finally, these structures will be used to encapsulate and deliver model compounds and anticancer drugs, exploiting the peptide and sugar coating on the nanoparticles to achieve selective targeting to cancer cells, using tumour-specific chemical triggers. This is a cutting edge project that will deliver transformative discoveries using materials that will be designed taking inspiration from nature and using nature's palette of biomolecular functions, which have been evolved for optimal performance under specific conditions. This project addresses important unmet needs for new types of eco-friendly biosurfactants and advanced functional nanomaterials based on rational control of biomolecular self-assembly. An Established Career Fellowship will provide the flexibility to develop these exciting NLC systems based on a clear vision to exploit biomolecular self-assembly to create innovative materials that address major environmental and healthcare challenges.