Novel Bioactive Inorganic Materials

该项目的目的是稳定无机层状材料中的酶，并详细了解酶-固体相互作用。这项研究对于合理设计新材料以最大限度地发挥酶在生物催化，植入物，人工器官和生物传感器（国土安全）中的作用至关重要。酶的工业/实验室使用受到严重限制，部分原因是酶对pH、温度和有机溶剂不稳定。 包埋在固体中的酶可以克服这些限制中的一些，但是酶的包埋导致活性的显著损失。 本研究的目的是提供一个系统的调查所需的酶固体材料，以填补这一知识空白。 我们将使用一种新的，可逆的，和强大的方法（拴血红素的方法），以嵌入酶在固体中，并评估他们使用国家的最先进的微量热和光谱方法。研究生、本科生、高中生和外国访问学者将接受材料合成、蛋白质结构、酶动力学、微量热法和衰减全反射-傅里叶变换红外光谱（ATR-FTIR）方面的培训。我们将参加外展计划，“孩子们也是科学家”的幼儿;“导师连接”的天才高中生;和NSF REU化学计划。 我们将在网站http://jasmin.chem.uconn.edu）上发布针对研究生和本科生的教育材料。%酶直接或间接地负责体内大多数关键的生化过程。 将酶用于工业/实验室应用的令人兴奋的可能性受到严重限制，这是由于酶的可用量极低、价格昂贵并且它们非常容易失活。 该项目产生的新知识对于设计新材料以最大限度地发挥酶的功能至关重要。包埋酶的一些应用包括但不限于生物催化、植入物、人造器官和生物传感器（用于国土安全）。

The aims of this project are to stabilize enzymes in inorganic layered materials, and to develop a detailed understanding of enzyme-solid interactions. This research is crucial for the rational design of new materials to maximize enzyme function for application in biocatalysis, implants, artificial organs, and biosensors (homeland security). Industrial/laboratory use of enzymes is severely limited, due partly to enzyme instability towards pH, temperature, and organic solvents. Enzymes embedded in solids can overcome some of these limitations, but embedding of enzymes results in significant loss of activity. The goal of this research is to provide a systematic investigation of enzyme-solid materials needed to fill this knowledge gap. We will use a novel, reversible, and robust methodology (tethered-heme approach) to embed enzymes in solids, and evaluate them using state-of-the-art micro-calorimetric and spectroscopic methods. Graduate, undergraduate, high school students, and visiting foreign scholars will be trained in material synthesis, protein structure, enzyme kinetics, micro-calorimetry, and attenuated total reflectance - Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). We will participate in the outreach programs, "Kids are Scientists Too" for young children; the "Mentor Connection" for gifted high school students; and the NSF REU program in Chemistry. We will post educational materials on the web http://jasmin.chem.uconn.edu) for graduate and undergraduate students.%%%Enzymes are responsible, directly or indirectly, for most of the key biochemical processes in the body. The exciting possibility of using enzymes for industrial/laboratory applications is severely limited due to the fact that enzymes are available in extremely low quantities, are expensive, and they are deactivated very readily. The resulting new knowledge from this project will be essential for the design of novel materials to maximize enzyme function. Some applications of embedded enzymes would include, but not be limited to, biocatalysis, implants, artificial organs, and biosensors (for homeland security).***