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

纳米材料是具有几纳米大小的材料，比人类头发的宽度小几千倍。它们作为创新的先进材料在过滤方面的应用引起了人们的极大兴趣，因为它们可以捕获非常小的颗粒，如细菌和病毒。此外，对于非常小的颗粒，催化剂的活性也大大提高，例如在发动机催化转化器中。用于最新一代笔记本电脑、电脑和智能手机的硅芯片依赖于增加芯片上的晶体管数量，这是通过减小晶体管特征的尺寸来实现的。此外，纳米颗粒(直径几纳米的超小颗粒)具有独特的功能，可用于输送药物和其他治疗分子，因为它们的尺寸很小，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结合物(NLCs)，其中包含生物衍生和生物相容的脂类、多肽和糖，它们连接在一起形成多功能分子。通过连接不同的成分将这些天然分子结合在一起，将产生新的结构和功能。我们将使用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。其中许多NLC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。将特别关注那些产生最小特征尺寸的NLC，这些NLC将被用于制造用于过滤应用的新的纳米多孔膜和具有作为涂层和催化的新特性的纳米颗粒表面。薄膜将由形成极端微生物细胞膜的特殊类型的脂类制成，这些极端生物可以承受极端的环境条件，如在深海喷口附近发现的pH和温度。我们将使用胶束和囊泡，这是由表面活性剂和脂类在水中形成的超小结构，已经在市场上上市，用于化妆品和药物。将分析生物表面活性剂NLCS的去污性、生物降解性和环保性质。最后，这些结构将被用来包裹和输送模型化合物和抗癌药物，利用包裹在纳米颗粒上的肽和糖，使用肿瘤特异性化学触发器实现对癌细胞的选择性靶向。这是一个尖端项目，将利用材料带来革命性的发现，这些材料将从自然中获得灵感，并使用自然的生物分子功能调色板，这些功能已经为在特定条件下的最佳性能而进化。该项目解决了对新型生态友好型生物表面活性剂和基于生物分子自组装的合理控制的先进功能纳米材料的重要未满足需求。既定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，基于利用生物分子自组装来创造创新材料的明确愿景，以应对主要的环境和医疗挑战。

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.