1. Self-Assembling Materials for Energy Storage and Transport
Sarah Heilshorn, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University
Goal: Utilize biological assemblies to synthesize nanomaterials with unprecedented control
Strategy:
Direct the self-assembly of a natural protein, clathrin, to form nano-cages
Functionalize the nano-cages with peptides to bridge the biologic-inorganic interface
Innovation: Biomimetic approach to functionalize protein templates
- Site-specific functionalization with no genetic or chemical modifications required
- A modular & flexible strategy to create multiple inorganic nanomaterials from one scaffold
Clathrin
Nano-Cages
Inorganic
Nanoparticles
Purification
Self
assembly
Site-specific
functionalization
Inorganic
templating
Scale bars = 50 nm
Anatase
titanium
dioxide
Cobalt
oxide
Gold