RUI: Nanoparticle Film Assemblies: Interfaces for Controlling the Nanoscale Adsorption Environment and Electrochemical Behavior of Immobilized Redox Proteins

里士满大学的Michael C.Leopold教授在化学系分析和表面化学计划的支持下开展了一项研究，旨在开发组装在导电表面的化学修饰的金纳米粒子，称为单层保护簇(MPC)，并将该平台用作蛋白质单层电化学的功能电极组件，以探索固定化氧化还原蛋白质的电子转移特性，同时保持其生物功能。将进行实验，以研究MPC的核心尺寸和功能的作用，以及通过MPC的电子传输率对距离的依赖关系。了解蛋白质与这些底物的相互作用和电荷转移特性将有助于更好地认识MPC在生物分析化学中的许多应用潜力，从而开发出微型生物传感器。这项研究将让本科院校的本科生学习现代研究方法，并对他们进行最先进的仪器培训。

Professor Michael C. Leopold of the University of Richmond is supported by the Analytical and Surface Chemistry Program in the Division of Chemistry to conduct research leading to the development of chemically modified gold nanoparticles assembled onto conducting surfaces, known as monolayer-protected clusters (MPCs), and to use this platform as a functional electrode component for protein monolayer electrochemistry to probe the electron transfer properties of immobilized redox proteins, while preserving their biological function. Experiments will be conducted to study the role of the core size and functionality of the MPCs, and the dependence of electron transfer rates on distance through the MPCs. Understanding of the interactions and charge transfer properties of proteins with these substrates will lead to a better realization of the potential of MPCs in many applications in bioanalytical chemistry leading to the development of miniaturized biosensors. This research will involve undergraduate students in an undergraduate institution in modern research methods and train them in state-of-the-art instrumentation.