Molecular Biomimetics : Genetically-Engineered Molecular Materials for Technology & Medicine

1. Molecular Biomimetics: Genetically-Engineered Molecular Materials for Technology & Medicine Mehmet Sarikaya,1,2 Beth Traxler,3 R. Samudrala,3A. Jen,1,4 B. Parviz,5 François Baneyx,2,6 Daniel T. Schwartz,2 & Candan Tamerler1 GEMSEC: Genetically Engineered Materials Science and Engineering (an NSF-MRSEC at the UW) Participating Departments: 1Materials Sci. & Eng., 3Chemical Eng. 2Microbiology, 4Chemistry, Electrical Eng., and 6Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA, sarikaya@u.washington.edu; http://www.GEMSEC.washington.edu & http://depts.washington.edu/nanobio Summary: Utilizing recent advances in biology and physical sciences, we unite molecular genetic tools with synthetic nanoscale constructs to create a hybrid field, molecular biomimetics. Here, we adapt bio-schemes including combinatorial mutagenesis, bioinformatics, and computational biology to design novel peptides with specific binding to and assembly on functional nanoscale solids. Based on genome-based design, molecular recognition, and self-assembly principles, we engineer peptides as synthesizers, molecular erectors and assemblers in diverse areas from quantum electronic devices to molecular imaging and cell-free tissue engineering. Research supported by GEMSEC, an NSF-MRSEC & NIH. Peptides are workhorses in biology via ligand/receptor interactions – If we design a ligand peptide recognizing a nanoinorganic, then we can genetically engineer materials systems for technology & medicine!! Principles of materials formation in Biology Combinatorial Mutagenesis Lessons from Mother Nature Fundamentals & Implementations Molecular Characterization Material Recognition and Selectivity by Peptides New Materials Revolution! Human revolutions proceeded materials revolutions Potential Implementations Nanofabrication Cell Adhesion Towards Quantum Electronic Devices Neurodegenerative Diseases Tissue Engineering Interdisciplinary Collaboration Summary Bioinformatics – In silico Designed Peptides Polydisciplinary Research & Implementation Dissemination Projects Supported by NSF-MRSEC, NSF-BioMat, NSF-IRES, ARO, NIH