Self-assembly of polypeptides as inspiration for new materials
Self-assembly of polypeptides as inspiration for new materials
- Event time: 1:00pm
- Event date: 27th November 2006
- Speaker: Professor Cait MacPhee (School of Physics & Astronomy, University of Edinburgh)
- Location: Room 2511, James Clerk Maxwell Building (JCMB) James Clerk Maxwell Building Peter Guthrie Tait Road Edinburgh EH9 3FD GB
Event details
Self-assembling proteinaceous fibrils with a diameter on the order of nanometres and a length on the order of microns can be assembled from most - if not all - proteins. They are remarkable materials, involved in a diverse variety of phenomena ranging from moderating surface tension through to promoting bacterial community behaviours. We look to these structures as robust biomaterials and as scaffolds or templates for controlled assembly at the nanoscale. I will describe our recent experiments probing the structure and mechanical properties of model protein fibrils, and our current efforts to use them as scaffolds to promote one-dimensional ordering of organic dyes.
About Condensed Matter lunchtime seminars
This is a weekly series of informal talks given primarily by members of the institute of condensed matter and complex systems, but is also open to members of other groups and external visitors. The aim of the series is to promote discussion and learning of various topics at a level suitable to the broad background of the group. Everyone is welcome to attend..