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Research Overview
Overview
Our group engineers biologically-derived materials for practical applications. We are motivated sustainability and biomedical challenges. We have identified areas of applications that bio-based materials have an immense potential to improve, including bioelectronics, bio-functional textiles and bioplastics.
Through the fabrication of protein-based materials and “living” devices, we enhance the performance of various devices, introducing novel functions that only biological molecules can offer, and providing green material alternatives.
We employ biofabrication methods that bridge biology and engineering, from protein engineering to bioprocess engineering and materials engineering.
Biofabrication
Synthetic biology
Simple, scalable & sustainable bioprocessing
Materials fabrication
Applications
Bioelectronics
Functional composites
Wearables
Ongoing Research Areas
Scalable biofabrication of materials with self-assembling proteins
Combining synthetic biology and bioprocess engineering approaches, we develop new pathways and processes to synthesize proteins that self-assemble into higher order structures. Through protein engineering, we modulate the structure, mechanics and biochemistry of the materials.
Protein-based bioelectronics
Seeking inspiration from naturally conductive protein nanowires, we use synthetic scaffolds to replicate and enhance long-range charge transport in protein fibers. We further explore areas of applications for protein-based electronics devices to fabricate soft electrodes and biointerfaces. We also develop reliable methods to deepen the understanding of conductivity mechanisms in biological materials.
Bio-functional wearables
We take advantage of extraordinary properties of self-assembling proteins to develop wearable devices that could be used as functional garments or biological sensors. Using genetically-engineered proteins, we have fabricated textiles that can self-repair, detect ions and more
Sustainable composites and plastic-like materials
We create a synergy between proteins and inorganic or polymeric materials, uniquely combining them and producing composites with enhanced properties. We aim for both high performance and sustainable materials.
Funding
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