Our work merges protein engineering, nanotechnology, molecular engineering and materials science. Current research interests include.

Solid Binding Proteins: Elucidating the Fundamentals

Solid-binding proteins are chimeric entities that combine the built-in structure and function of natural, engineered, or de novo designed protein scaffolds (e.g., self-assembly, ligand or epitope binding, catalysis…) with the adhesive or morphogenetic properties of short solid-binding peptides (SBPs) that have been genetically engineered within their frameworks.

We use solid-binding proteins to understand the mechanisms that underpin the binding of SBPs to inorganic interfaces. In collaboration with computational labs, we explore how insertion point, host scaffold, interface chemistry, and solution conditions modulate binding and influence biomimetic mineralization outcomes. We exploit this fundamental understanding to formulate design rules for predictive synthesis of bio-enabled materials.

Hybrid Materials, Systems and Devices

Biomacromolecules, inorganic materials, and polymers all have unique properties and functionalities that can be synergistically combined through the use of solid-binding proteins. From reconfigurable systems to bio-integration, and from therapeutics to bionanoelectronics, we explore these opportunities in a broad range of fields.

We have, for example, derivatized 1- and 2D peptoid (poly N-substituted glycine) nanostructures with solid-binding proteins to fabricate hierarchical and composite materials for structural, opto-electronic and photocatalysis applications. 

Stimuli-Responsive Matter

We are developing protein-nanoparticle systems that can be rapidly assembled into complex structures and reversibly dissociated using chemical, physical, or optical cues to create novel materials, devices and therapeutics.

These systems are based on stimuli-responsive protein and DNA frameworks, and on the response of SBPs and inorganic interfaces to chemical and environmental changes. One of our goal is to use these tools, along with AI-enabled synthesis, to uncover non-equilibrium and metastable states of matter with emergent properties.