Synthetic-Biological LEGOs - Designing Versatile Nanoscale Synthons for Self-Assembly
Abstract
Next generation technologies are setting materials requirements far exceeding our state-of-the-art synthetic capabilities. Examples include the need for materials capable of stimuli responsive metamorphosis or rapid sensors that amplify low intensity signals to enhance resolution and facilitate on-the-fly imaging. Technical constraints limiting creation of such materials revolve around the need to synergistically merge multiple components possessing divergent or disparate properties into a composite material. Polymer-DNA grafted proteins (PDPTs) - moonshot at the intersection between nanotechnology, self-assembly, and protein engineering - present a hybrid class of nanoscale materials that can address this grand challenge in materials design. These hybrid building blocks are ideal for crafting multifunctional composites, where proteins imbue the material with unique property combinations while polymer-DNA grafts provide the network organization to bridge materials fabrication to technologically relevant length scales. The vision for this proposal is employ a 2.5-pronged approach combining theory, simulation, and validation using experimental results from literature to elucidate a fundamental, thermodynamical understanding of PDPT self-assembly that can be used to design novel building blocks. Successful integration across all three components of the proposed works will produce a theoretical framework for PDPTs that can be used to construct a suite of building blocks imbued with both versatility and programmability so that they can be mixed-and-matched to aid in the engineering of multifunctional materials. Our works will provide a foundational set of LEGO-like bricks for this class of synthetic-biological synthons, establishing a biological counterpart to traditional inorganic nanoscale assembly.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Feb 06, 2025
- Source ID
- FA95502410100
Entities
People
- Thi Vo
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Johns Hopkins University
- United States Air Force