Molecular Design of Protein-mimetic Nanostructures
Mukarram Tahir, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Gold nanoparticles functionalized with a monolayer of amphiphilic ligands can insert into lipid membranes through a non-disruptive pathway that has been well-characterized using a combination of experiments and atomistic molecular dynamics simulations. The physiochemical similarity between these nanoparticles and amphiphilic membrane-bound and free-circulating proteins suggests a possibility for designing nanostructures that can function as biomimetic proteins. In this talk, I will present an overview of how molecular simulation techniques have allowed us to tackle this engineering challenge and develop nanoparticles that can modulate fusion between lipid membranes, transport hydrophobic small molecules to lipid-bound compartments, and induce transient curvature for sculpting lipid membranes into organelles. These studies point to a unique opportunity to utilize monolayer-protected nanoparticles as a versatile platform for engineering targeted nano-bio interactions.
Abstract Author(s): Mukarram Tahir, Alfredo Alexander-Katz