Keith Brown

Patterned Enzymatic Growth of Materials

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
ME.Faculty.KeithABrown_June2015The 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. They will also learn how to design robust experiments and interpret results in systems where characterization is incomplete. Finally, there is a creative element of this project in designing novel hierarchical materials.

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

To learn more about Professor Brown, visit his faculty page.