Biochemistry & Biomaterials

Conducting research at the intersection of biology and nanotechnology in exciting new interdisciplinary collaborations that combine the approaches of biochemistry, molecular biology, and biotechnology with the expertise of colleagues in the Departments of Materials Science, Physics, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, we are discovering the molecular mechanisms governing several biological processes that have technological consequences:

1. biomineralization - The mechanisms behind biosynthesis and supramolecular self-assembly of molluscan shells and pearls, coral skeletons, and sponge spicules have revealed that biomineralization can be harnessed for the development of environmentally benign new routes to synthesis of high-performance materials.
2. physical color - Squids and octopods are consummate masters of camouflage. Molecular characterization of light-reflecting tissues is revealing how to tune physical color.
3. adhesion - Water is the nemesis of practical adhesive bonding, yet the rocky intertidal seashore is home to a host of organisms that spend their lives attached to wet solid surfaces. Dopa-containing proteins are a key to mimicking wet adhesion.
4. high performance polymer composites - Impact implements such as teeth, fangs, beaks, spines, claws etc in many marine organisms are made from proteins with minimal or no reliance on minerals. Rapid self-healing occurs in some biomaterials such as whelk egg cases.