Date of Award

Winter 12-15-2017

Author's School

McKelvey School of Engineering

Author's Department

Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Degree Type

Dissertation

Abstract

During the course of evolution, proteins have evolved to perform exquisite functions including structural support, signal transduction, actuation, sensing, catalysis, trafficking, gating, light-harvesting, charge transfer, molecular recognition, self-assembly, self-organization, or combinations of two or more of these functions. A precise control and manipulation of the structure and function of proteins is conceivable with the advent of nanotechnology, which has facilitated the integration of nanomaterials with functional biomolecules to realize bio-nano hybrids with synergistically enhanced functionalities.

At the genesis of bionanotechnology, a paucity in the fundamental understanding of the bio-nano interfaces is a grave impediment to the progress of the field. In this study, we seek to understand the structure and biophysicochemical properties of bio-nano hybrids by a careful consideration of the interactions between these distinct material systems. We hypothesize that the functional properties of the bio-nano hybrids depend on the physical (size, shape, curvature) and chemical (surface charge and functional groups) characteristics of the nanomaterials. We have employed model structural and functional proteins interfaced with nanostructures to understand the influence of biomolecular structure at the interface on the functionality of the bio-nano hybrids. Overall, we establish design rules for the rational integration of functional nanostructures with proteins to realize bio-nano hybrids for biosensing, biocatalysis, nanomedicine, biomimetic composites and biorobotics.

Language

English (en)

Chair

Srikanth Singamaneni

Committee Members

Shantanu Chakrabartty, Julio M. D'Arcy, Young-Shin Jun, Jeremiah J. Morrissey,

Comments

Permanent URL: https://doi.org/10.7936/K7KW5FG1

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