Biomaterials Interfaces for Photoactive Proteins

该奖项由范德比尔特大学材料研究部的生物材料计划颁发，旨在研究光系统I(PSI)在太阳能转换中的潜在应用。PSI是植物和光合细菌中将太阳光转化为可用能量的主要大分子系统。该项目的主要目标将是了解光合作用过程中电子传递到固定PSI单层和多层膜以及从固定PSI膜传递电子的基本机制。有了这一奖项，将开发方法来研究高阶定向多层结构的PSI与模拟更大规模的生物结构。沉积的PSI薄膜将通过分子线连接起来，以获得更好的连接性和电子传导性。本项目将开展以下研究：1)将PSI连接到用作分子线的金电极上；2)通过电化学催化优化PSI单分子膜的光转化效率；3)通过扫描电化学显微镜对PSI进行功能成像；以及4)研究模仿更大规模生物结构(如类囊体膜)的功能多层结构的机制。拟议的研究有望通过自下而上的方式将功能生物系统与分子和中尺度材料相结合。处理，同时保持PSI系统的功能。拟议的仿生方法可以将阳光转化为一种潜在的可利用能源。拟议的项目有望加强对生物结构和控制良好的模型有机材料之间的界面的基本了解。将研究新的共价和仿生连接，以及二维晶体和策略，并通过电化学程序测量它们的效果。这个多学科的研究团队由来自范德比尔特大学和田纳西州立大学的化学和生物分子工程师和化学家组成，田纳西州立大学是田纳西州最大的HBCU。此外，这些机构的一大批研究生和本科生将接受研究团队的培训。高中教师和学生通过NSF资助的教师研究经验和范德比尔特暑期学校等不同项目参与研究活动是该项目的另一个方面。

This award by the Biomaterials program in the Division of Materials Research to Vanderbilt University is to study PhotoSystem I (PSI) for potential applications in solar energy conversion. PSI is the primary macromolecular system in plants and photosynthetic bacteria for the conversion of sun light to useable energy. The main goal of the project will be to understand the fundamental mechanisms of electron transfer to and from immobilized PSI monolayer and multilayer films during the photosynthesis. With this award, methods will be developed to study higher order oriented multilayer structures of PSI with that mimic larger scale biological structures. The deposited films of PSI will be linked through molecular wires for better connectivity and electron conductivity. The following studies will be carried out with this project: 1) attachment of PSI to gold electrodes that are used as molecular wires; 2) optimization of the photoconversion efficiency for PSI monolayers by electrochemical catalysis; 3) functional imaging of PSI by scanning electrochemical microscopy; and 4) study the mechanism of functional multilayer structures that mimic the larger scale biological structures like the thylakoid membranes. The proposed studies are expected to integrate functional biological systems with molecular and mesoscale materials through ?bottom-up? processing, while maintaining the function of the PSI system. The biomimetic approaches proposed could result in converting sunlight to be a potential useable source of energy.The proposed project is expected to enhance the fundamental understanding of the interface between biological structures and well-controlled, model organic materials. New covalent and biomimetic attachments, along with 2-D crystals and strategies will be investigated and their effects measured through electrochemical procedures. This multidisciplinary research team consists of chemical and biomolecular engineers and chemists from Vanderbilt University and Tennessee State University, the largest HBCU in Tennessee. In addition, a large number of graduate and undergraduate students from these institutions will be trained by the research team. Participation of high school teachers and students in the research activities through different programs such as NSF-funded Research Experiences for Teachers and Vanderbilt Summer Academy is another aspect of the project.