1. Active Orientation and Encapsulation of Bacteriorhodopsin-Driven Photo-Energy Transduction in Copolymer Shells
Dean Ho, Departments of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208
Protein-Polymer Hybrid Membranes: Bacteriorhodopsin (BR, left) is among the most efficient energy converters, capable of utilizing sunlight (green wavelength) to induce proton pumping which can be harnessed for practical purposes. We have fabricated BR-copolymer membrane hybrids towards the development of robust, bio-inspired energy conversion systems.
Objective: We aim to harness oriented BR activity within a polymethyloxazoline-polydimethylsiloxane-polymethyloxazoline (PMOXA-PDMS-PMOXA) triblock copolymer membrane. Both charged-based and protein-tagging methods will be explored within a Langmuir-Blodgett trough to induce uni-directional protein insertion within the polymeric matrix. Vectorial protein-polymer activity is expected to enhance proton pumping efficiency within a robust biomimetic membrane.