CRC: Exploiting Self-Assembly in Biological and Synthetic Macromolecules to Create Novel Hybrid Materials

Anna Balazs、Gilbert Walker、Thomas Russell和Todd Emrick获得了研究自组装过程的合作奖。此次合作的其他合作伙伴包括Craig Hawker (IBM Almaden), Linda Molnar （NASA）和Jonathan Trent （NASA）。他们的目标是通过利用在一个系统中同时发生两种不同的自组装过程时产生的协同相互作用来创造新的材料。一种成分是伴侣蛋白，可以自我组装成纤维、束或片，另一种成分是合成嵌段共聚物，可以形成层状、圆柱形、球形和更复杂的相。通过将一个阶段连接或嵌入另一个阶段，一个自组织过程可以影响另一个阶段并导致新的组装。本研究将理论与实验相结合，探讨合作行为，并了解基本的自组装过程。了解合成分子如何与生物分子相互作用对生物材料和生物传感器至关重要。该研究的潜在应用包括抗菌涂层、反应材料、药物传递和生物分子电子学。该项目由化学合作研究计划（CRC）资助，为本科生、研究生和博士后研究人员提供了在广泛的研究领域获得知识和技能的绝佳机会，包括材料合成、理论、聚合物工程、物理化学和纳米科学。

Anna Balazs, Gilbert Walker, Thomas Russell, and Todd Emrick are supported with a collaborative award to study self-assembly processes. Additional partners in this collaboration include Craig Hawker (IBM Almaden), Linda Molnar (NASA) and Jonathan Trent (NASA). Their goal is to create novel materials by exploiting synergistic interactions that arise when two distinct self-assembling processes occur silmultaneously in one system. One component is chaperonin proteins that self-assemble into fibers, bundles or sheets, the other is synthetic block copolymers that form lamellar, cylindrical, spherical and more complicated phases. By linking or embedding one phase in another, one self-organization process can influence the other and lead to novel new assemblies. This study integrates theory and experiment to probe cooperative behavior and understand fundamental self-assembly processes. Understanding how synthetic molecules interact with biological molecules is essential to biomaterials and biosensors. Potential applications of this research include antimicrobial coatings, responsive materials, drug delivery and biomolecular electronics. This project is funded through the Collaborative Research in Chemistry Program (CRC) and provides outstanding opportunities for undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers to acquire knowledge and skills in very broad areas of research, including materials synthesis, theory, polymer engineering, physical chemistry and nanoscience.