Recognition and Physicochemical Characterization of Nanomaterial-Peptide Interactions

Project Information

Principal Investigator	John F Honek
Institution	University of Waterloo,
Project URL	View
Relevance to Implications	High
Class of Nanomaterial	Engineered Nanomaterials
Impact Sector	Human Health
Broad Research Categories	Generation, Dispersion, Transformation etc. Characterization
NNI identifier

Funding Information

Country	Canada
Anticipated Total Funding	$86,883.00
Annual Funding	$43,441.50
Funding Source	NSERC
Funding Mechanism	Extramural
Funding Sector	Government
Start Year	2005
Anticipated End Year	2007

Abstract/Summary

The interface between biological systems and nanomaterials is of critical importance to the understanding of how the properties of nanomaterials can be affected by their molecular interactions with biomolecules. This research is targeted to better understanding this type of interaction between peptide molecules (and potentially proteins) and leading nanomaterials such as carbon-based nanotube and fullerene-based materials. Research will focus on identifying sequences of peptides that have high-affinity for these materials. Isolation and study of these peptides with these materials will allow us to learn more about how biological systems interact with nanomaterials and what effects these interactions have on these materials at the molecular level as well as at the macroscopic level. For example, how is the solubility, aggregation, stability and other key physical chemical properties affected by these peptide interactions and can any changes in physical properties be correlated to these molecular level interactions.