Mehmet Sarikaya
Materials Science and Engineering
University of Washington
Seattle, WA

Monday, May 10, 1999
3:00 pm (CT)
3269 Beckman Institute

Abstract

Genesis of inorganics at the molecular-scale by proteins forms a basis for intricate nano- and micro-architectures of biocomposites that have unprecedented physical properties compared to human-made materials. Structural control of engineering materials at the nanometer-scale is a key for their improved properties. Biocomposites (bone, dentin, mollusk shells, bacterial particles and thin-films) offer lessons for future biomimetic design of technological materials. Proteins can be isolated biochemically from hard tissues; a more practical strategy is to use genetic engineering techniques to design proteins with high affinity to inorganic surfaces. Combinatorial genetic techniques permit isolation of specific recognition elements for inorganic surfaces, including those not realized by natural proteins, in the absence of apriori prediction of necessary structures. The results could have significant implications in tailoring formation and assembly of ordered materials in nano- and bio-technology.

Tea and coffee will be served in R3151 Beckman Institute at 2:15pm.