Keith Brown

Patterned Enzymatic Growth of Materials

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The goal of this project is to combine aspects of top down patterning and bottom-up bioassembly to create new hierarchical materials. Specifically, we have recently developed a method for patterning hydrogel films loaded with active enzymes. The REU and RET will combine this protocol and procedures for directing enzymes to grow functional materials as a means of growing materials with spatially patterned structural, conductive, and optical elements. Ultimately, this is a basic science project and the researchers will seek to understand the limitations and opportunities inherent to templated enzymatic growth of materials in porous environments.

LABORATORY MENTOR
Le Li

RESEARCH GOALS
• Develop a method for quantifying the location and concentration of enzymes in photopatterned hydrogel films.
• Observe the growth of conductive nanowires, structural nanocrystals, and optical elements with high spatial resolution.
• Understand the constraints of materials growth in terms of resolution.

LEARNING GOALS
• The REU and RET students will learn cleanroom microfabrication techniques as well as biomolecular growth and materials characterization.
• Learn how to design robust experiments and interpret results in systems where characterization is incomplete.
• There is a creative element of this project in designing novel hierarchical materials.

TIMELINE
Weeks 1-3: develop a series of protocols for immobilizing different enzymes in hydrogel films and measuring their concentration.
Weeks 3-6: Observe the enzyme-mediated growth of materials originating from these immobilized enzymes
Weeks 6-9: Explore novel hierarchical structures and parameterize emergent mechanical, electrical, and optical properties.

Learn more about Professor Brown on his faculty page.