Electrostatic Driven Self-Assembly of Functional Nanostructures
PI: Monica Olvera de la Cruz, Northwestern University
Co-PI: Michael Bedzyk, Northwestern University
Biomolecules assemble into complex architectures that have impressive functionalities such as recruiting chemicals, making molecules, and producing energy. One grand challenge is to understand the basic principle that govern such robust biological assembly and discover ways to imitate their function and explore new functionalities. Biomimetic systems are constructed by designing molecules capable of self-organizing with themselves and with other chemically diverse molecules into complex architectures. Generally, these molecules contain charged groups, which allow them to assemble and disassemble in response to external stimuli such as changes in ionic conditions, chemical potentials, and/or temperature. By co-assembling heterogeneous molecules with charged groups, one can mimic the organization and function of specific biomolecular assemblies such as microtubules and crystalline bacterial microcompartments. We propose to design and characterize the organization of molecules with polar, non-polar, and charged groups including proteins and amphiphiles, into specific nanostructures to explore biomimetic functionalities. We will construct chiral mesostructures using chiral amphiphilic molecules that undergo transitions in response to ionic conditions, and microcompartments that mimic bacterial microcompartments, which we will actuate or propel using external parameters such as chemical gradients or via self-difussiophoresis.