Developing Catalytic Nanogels as General Purpose Glycosidases

开发新的途径将容易获得的和可再生的资源转化为有用的材料是21世纪化学的重大挑战之一。设计模拟自然界使用的酶的催化剂是一种很有希望的方法，可以转化容易获得的原料，如植物纤维素。在这个项目中，阿肯色大学的Susanne Striegler教授正在发展对酶类催化剂的基本了解，并利用它们的结构和功能之间的协同作用。随着从生物可再生资源中获得精细化学品的新途径变得越来越重要，这种基础研究对我们的社会是有益的。Striegler博士积极参与外展活动，鼓励初中和高中生学习STEM(科学、技术、工程和数学)学科，并结合德语技能发展。鼓励学生加强德语技能和STEM教育，为他们在国际上与他人接触并在国外学习和工作做好准备。阿肯色大学化学系化学催化和高分子、超分子和纳米化学项目的资助下，阿肯色大学的Striegler博士正在开发仿生大分子、纳米凝胶催化剂，并阐述支持催化的基质效应和过渡金属络合物催化功能之间的协同作用。由此产生的催化剂可能会得到广泛的应用，从新的抗菌剂到由未活化的低聚糖生产生物燃料。结构-活性关系研究正被用于阐述非活性糖和双核铜(II)络合物之间的过渡态稳定作用。这些研究利用动力学分析和计算相结合的方法来揭示糖的结合位置，以及糖-金属络合物组装的能量和几何形状。预计基础和基础研究将最大限度地发挥纳米凝胶的催化效能，并在仿生催化方面开辟新的研究前沿。Striegler博士积极参与面向STEM领域招生的推广计划，将讲德语的当地初高中学生和他们的老师与STEM领域的培训和职业机会联系起来。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Developing new routes to transform readily available and renewable resources into useful materials is one of the grand challenges of the 21st century chemistry. The design of catalysts that mimic the enzymes used by nature is a promising way to transform readily available starting materials such as plant cellulose. In this project, Professor Susanne Striegler of the University of Arkansas is developing fundamental understanding of enzyme-like catalysts and exploiting the synergy between their structure and function. This basic research is beneficial to our society as new avenues toward fine chemicals from bio-renewable resources grow in importance. Dr. Striegler is actively engaged in outreach activities to encourage middle and high school students in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) disciplines and in combination with German language skill development. Encouraging students to strengthen their German language skills and STEM education prepares them to engage others at an international level and to study and work abroad.With funding from the Chemical Catalysis and Macromolecular, Supramolecular and Nanochemistry Programs of the Chemistry Division, Dr. Striegler of the University of Arkansas is developing biomimetic macromolecular, nanogel catalysts and elaborating the synergy between catalysis-supporting matrix effects and the catalytic function of transition metal complexes. The resulting catalysts may find applications ranging from new antimicrobial agents to biofuel production from non-activated oligosaccharides. Structure-activity relationship studies are being used to elaborate transition state-stabilizing interactions between non-activated saccharides and binuclear copper(II) complexes. The studies utilize kinetic analyses in combination with a computational approach to reveal binding sites of the saccharides, and energies and geometries of sugar-metal complex assemblies. The fundamental and basic studies are projected to maximize the catalytic potency of nanogels and open new research frontiers in biomimetic catalysis. Dr. Striegler is actively engaged in outreach programs focusing on student recruitment into the STEM fields by connecting German speaking local middle and high-school students and their teachers to the training and career opportunities in the STEM field.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.