Project Overview
NIRT: Exploiting Protein Cage Dynamics to Engineer Active Nanostructures
# 0709358
Trevor Douglas (Principal Investigator)
Mark Young (Co-Principal Investigator)
Yves Idzerda (Co-Principal Investigator)
Brian Bothner (Co-Principal Investigator)
Protein cage dynamics plays an important role in the overall properties of the nanomaterials. This NIRT project will develop structured nanomaterials by using engineered protein cage architectures. The research activities are integrated in three components: active interfaces, cage dynamics, and confinement. The central focus of this NIRT project is to determine how particle confinement and protein cage dynamics at active interfaces controls nanomaterials synthesis and material functionality. The research on development of protein cage architectures for nanomaterials synthesis will clarify fundamental design principles for future directed applications in microelectronics, catalysis, sensing, and medicine.
The investigators will identify Native American students from Montana through MSU''s Undergraduate Scholars Program and involve them in the project. The researchers plan to collaborate with students in MSU''s Science and Natural History Filmaking program to produce two films on their research with protein cages.
The long-term goal is to use the knowledge gained to guide the development of a new generation of active and responsive nanomaterials. Specifically the research on development of protein cage architectures for nanomaterials synthesis will reveal fundamental design principles for future directed applications in microelectronics, catalysis, sensing, and medicine.
Source: NSF