Nanoengineering biological materials and machinery
Intro to Nanotechnology and DNA origami
Check out this video from PBS! My former colleague and current Chair of Engineering at Otterbein University, Dr. Mike Hudoba, meets with the head of the Center of Science and Industry to make some DNA nanostructures!
We will develop novel design approaches for dynamic and controllable DNA-based nanomechanisms by applying engineering approaches used to make macroscopic machines. We can program our dynamic DNA devices to react to molecular signals, triggering an optical readout or material property change in realtime. See more here.
Nucleic acid therapeutics have immense potential due to their affinity and specificity for intracellular targets that alter gene expression (e.g. mRNA COVID-19 vaccines). The major hurdle is creating a stable system that can sequester, protect, transport, and deliver nucleic acid payloads while potentially targeting specific tissue. Self-assembling charged polymers, amphiphilic polymers, and/or lipids with therapeutic nucleic acids offers promising solutions due to the tunable and customizable nature of the nanoparticles. My lab will develop structural design strategies guided by systematic physical characterization to enable predictive control over size, morphology, and stability; all features currently limiting success of these therapeutics. We will explore programmed cell surface targeting, endosomal escape, and cargo release to tailor nanoparticles for specific therapies. Ultimately, I aim to employ this comprehensive design process with collaborators in immunology against viral diseases that disproportionally affect underserved communities. See more here.
Inspired by nature’s cellular processes and traditional engineering, we aim to build nanodevices for sensing, signal transmission, and mechanical actuation, then incorporate these into large-scale soft materials. Translating the function of nanodevices into materials is a key challenge in today’s nanoengineering landscape. Coupling molecular interactions with bulk material properties will enable physical and chemical characterization and manipulation of biological systems. This involves macromolecular assembly of DNA nanostructures into micron-scale filaments and networks borrowing concepts from polymer synthesis, leveraging the vast geometric, mechanical, and chemical design space of DNA nanotechnology, and employing the robust function of scalable cost-effective polymer assemblies. Our work starts with ultra-sensitive detection of genes, ions, and forces triggering large scale signaling and actuation with long-term potential to impact therapeutics, biomechanics, and biomaterial engineering at multiple scales. See more here.
