MESONET: Exploiting in situ protein unfolding to understand and control mesoscopic network formation

软物质和生物物理学中的一个主要挑战是构建一种理论，将单个生物聚合物的机械性能与这种生物聚合物网络的集体反应联系起来。虽然生物聚合物及其网络在纳米和宏观尺度上的表征已经取得了巨大的进展，但描述力学性质跨尺度转换的物理学仍然难以捉摸。解开这种复杂性的关键是使用大自然的生物异常机器-蛋白质作为模型系统，它具有进化进化的稳定性和功能，可以被用来实现对中尺度网络形成的原位控制。我的愿景是揭示中尺度蛋白质网络形成的丰富复杂性。我将通过开发一套强大的实验和建模工具来实现这一点，这些工具提供了前所未有的力量传播和中尺度网络形成的途径。我的方法的一个关键优势是，纳米级的更改和修改在网络体系结构中的作用可以分离，以便可以单独控制它们来影响网络属性。我将开发原位网络形成的快速帧速率采集，以揭示纳米尺度力学和松弛是如何调节中尺度网络形成的。我将设计和设计机械载体，以在多个长度和时间尺度上测量力传播和网络松弛。我将利用异质蛋白质网络中受控的机械变形，在可控小分子扩散和触发释放的设计性软物质方面产生新的技术进步。这门前沿科学将为软物质领域提供新的实验和建模工具，揭示描述力学跨尺度转换的基本物理学，并为未来的应用提供软物质材料设计的范式转变。

A major challenge in soft matter and biological physics is to construct a theory that connects the mechanical properties of an individual biopolymer and the collective response of a network of such biopolymers. While huge advancements have been made in the characterisation of biopolymers and their networks at the nanoscale and macroscale, the physics which describes the translation of mechanical properties across scales remains elusive. The key to unlocking this complexity is the use of Nature's bionanomachines-proteins as model systems, which possess evolutionary evolved stability and function, and which can be exploited to achieve in situ control of mesoscale network formation. My vision is to uncover the rich complexity of mesoscale protein network formation. I will achieve this through the development of a powerful suite of experimental and modelling tools which provide unprecedented access to force propagation and mesoscale network formation. A key strength of my approach is that the role of nanoscale changes and modifications in network architecture can be decoupled, so that they can be individually controlled to influence the network properties. I will develop rapid frame rate acquisition of in situ network formation to reveal how nanoscale mechanics and relaxation regulates mesoscale network formation. I will design and engineer mechanophores to measure force propagation and network relaxation at multiple length-and time-scales. I will exploit controlled mechanical deformation within the heterogeneous protein networks to yield novel technological advancements in designer soft matter for controlled small molecule diffusion and triggered release. This frontier science will deliver novel experimental and modelling tools for the soft matter community, uncover the fundamental physics which describes the translation of mechanics across scales and provide a paradigm shift in the design of soft matter materials for future applications.