Soft Biomolecular Materials and Interfaces

该研究计划结合了蛋白质设计，生物物理学和软凝聚态物理学的元素，以创建和研究基于生物分子自组装的新型蛋白质基软纳米结构材料。 我的实验室在使用已建立的生物学方法创造具有新结构和功能特征的聚合物样蛋白方面具有专业知识。 生物工程蛋白质聚合物的突出优点之一是精确控制其序列和分子量的能力，从而允许选择分子属性（如蛋白质构象）并控制蛋白质结合成超分子组装体和材料。 这种基于蛋白质的材料在细胞和组织工程、再生医学和靶向药物递送中具有广泛的应用。 拟议的计划将集中在几个主题领域：（1）关联蛋白质网络，（2）软生物功能蛋白质界面，（3）软蛋白质-无机纳米复合材料。 这些跨学科主题领域的研究将建立在我目前的研究计划以及与加拿大和国外团体的现有合作关系的基础上，并将为HQP提供广泛而前沿的培训经验，为他们在这个快速发展的跨学科生物材料领域的职业生涯做好准备。

This proposed research program combines elements of protein design, biophysics, and soft condensed matter physics to create and study novel protein-based soft nanostructured materials based on biomolecular self-assembly. My lab has expertise in the use of established biological methods for creating polymer-like proteins with novel structural and functional features. One of the outstanding advantages of biologically engineered protein polymers is the ability to precisely control their sequence and molecular weight, thereby allowing for the selection of molecular attributes (such as protein conformation) and control of the association of proteins into supramolecular assemblies and materials. Such protein-based materials have a wide variety of applications in cell and tissue engineering, regenerative medicine and targeted drug delivery. The proposed program will focus on several thematic areas: (1) Associating protein networks, (2) Soft Biofunctional Protein Interfaces, and (3) Soft Protein-Inorganic Nanocomposite Materials. The research in these interdisciplinary thematic areas will build on my current research programs and existing collaborative relationships with groups in Canada and abroad, and will provide HQP with a broad and cutting edge training experience that will prepare them for careers in this rapidly developing interdisciplinary biomaterials field.