Biomolecular assemblies and soft nanostructured materials

拟议的研究计划结合了软物质的两个主题领域的研究：软玻璃纳米结构材料和基于蛋白质的生物分子组装。这些研究将光散射、漫射波光谱、机械流变学和x射线光子相关光谱方法与材料合成和计算建模相结合。在软玻璃材料的研究项目中，我们将研究几种模型软纳米结构材料（温度可逆的纳米颗粒凝胶、剪切下的纳米乳液、靠近玻璃化转变的聚合物熔体和弹性体）的形成和老化，重点是了解机械变形对形成和老化过程的影响。在基于蛋白质的生物分子组装的研究项目中，我们将开发新的弹性蛋白质材料（结合蛋白质网络和弹性蛋白质聚合物），并研究其模块化结构域在决定其结构和粘弹性性能方面的作用。

The proposed research program combines studies in two thematic areas of soft matter: soft glassy nanostructured materials and protein-based biomolecular assemblies. These studies will combine light scattering, diffusing wave spectroscopy, mechanical rheometry, and x-ray photon correlation spectroscopy methods with materials synthesis and computational modeling. In the research program on soft glassy materials, we will study the formation and aging of several model soft nanostructured materials (temperature reversible nanoparticle gels, nanoemulsions under shear, and polymer melts and elastomers near the glass transition) with a focus on understanding the effects of mechanical deformation on the formation and aging processes. In the research program on protein-based biomolecular assemblies, we will develop new elastomeric protein materials (associating protein networks and elastomeric protein polymers), and investigate the roles of their modular domains in determining their structural and viscoelastic properties.