A. B. Chemistry and Biology (1993) Washington University
Ph.D. Molecular and Cellular Structure and Chemistry (1999) The Scripps Research Institute
Supramolecular Chemistry, Biomimetic Mineralization, Biomaterials
Email: jdh@rice.edu
Phone: (713) 348-4142
Office: BioScience Res Collaborative, 319
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Jeffrey Hartgerink
Associate Professor of Chemistry and Associate Professor of Bioengineering
Research Statement
Supramolecular chemistry is an emerging sub-discipline of chemistry that primarily concerns itself with non-covalent intermolecular interactions. These relatively weak forces are used in large number to create nanometer sized objects in a massively parallel fashion. The inspiration for this area of research comes primarily from advances in our understanding of biological systems and the miraculous structures found therein. Great strides have been made to mimic both the structures found in biological systems and the approaches that biology uses to create these structures. Although many of these advances are truly remarkable, and many may find practical application in the future, a situation has arisen where we are able to produce materials which have no easy method of manipulation or organization into higher order structures. It is analogous to being able to produce a wheel and an axle and having no way to connect them to one another, let alone to a cart. Alternatively one could compare this stage of supramolecular chemistry to traditional organic synthesis of a century ago when the number of chemical transformation and protecting groups were severely limited. In order to bring supramolecular chemistry to a new level of sophistication methods by which two or more supramolecular objects can be coupled or organized must be developed.
My research is directed at solving this problem by employing a second step of self-assembly, covalent capture and / or mineralization to create complex and functional assemblies. Three projects are starting in my lab which address this. The first uses the self-assembly of ?coiled-coils? (a pair of alpha-helical peptides wound around one another) as a framework for the secondary self-assembly of a conductive organic matrix to form wires with nanometer dimensions. These wires, unlike most other approaches to nanoscale electronics, may be able to organize themselves in neural networks that can readily interface with traditional electronics. The second project is geared toward the synthesis of an artificial extracellular matrix (ECM) for use as a drug and cell delivery vehicle and tissue regeneration therapies. This biomimetic material will be prepared through two steps of self-assembly followed by covalent capture. The third project targets the synthesis of novel catalysts and magnetic materials. The preparation of these materials uses the mechanisms involved in biomineralization that allow biology to create an amazing diversity of inorganic and composite materials such as shells, teeth and bone.
Selected Publications
F. Wei, D. Zhang, N. J. Halas and J. D. Hartgerink "Aromatic amino acids provide characteristic motifs in the Raman and SERS spectroscopy of Peptides." J. Phys. Chem. B, 113 (2008): 9158-9164.
C. L. Pizzey, W. C. Pomerantz, B.-J. Sung, V. M. Yuwono, S. H. Gellman, J. D. Hartgerink, A. Yethiraj, N. L. Abbott "Characterization of nanofibers formed by self-assembly of beta-peptide oligomers using small angle x-ray scattering." J. Chem. Phys., 129 (2008): 095103.
W. C. Pomerantz, V. M. Yuwono, C. L. Pizzey, J. D. Hartgerink, N. L. Abbott, S. H. Gellman "Nanofibers and Lyotropic Liquid Crystals from a Class of Self-Assembling Beta-Peptides." Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 47 (2008): 1241-1244.
K. M. Galler, A. Cavender, V. Yuwono, H. Dong, S. Shi, G. Schmalz, J. D. Hartgerink and R. N. D'Souza "Self-Assembling Peptide Amphiphile Nanofibers as a Scaffold for Dental Stem Cells." Tissue Eng. (2008).
D. Tsyboulski, E. Bakota, L. Witus, J-D. Rocha, J. D. Hartgerink, R. B. Weisman "Self-Assembling Peptide Coatings Designed for Highly Luminescent Suspensions of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes." J. Am. Chem. Soc., 130 (2008): 17134-17140.
H. Dong, S. E. Paramonov and J. D. Hartgerink "Self-assembly of alpha-helica coiled-coil nanofibers." J. Am. Chem. Soc., 130 (2008): 13691-13695.
V. Gauba and J. D. Hartgerink "Synthetic Collagen Heterotrimers: Structural Mimics of Wild Type and Mutant Collagen Type I." J. Am. Chem. Soc., 130 (2008): 7509-7515.
H-W. Jun, S. E. Paramonov, H. Dong, N. Forraz, C. McGuckin, and J. D. Hartgerink "Tuning the mechanical and bioresponsive properties of peptide-amphiphile nanofiber networks." J. Biomater. Sci. Polymer Edn., 19 (2008): 665-676.
V. Gauba and J. D. Hartgerink "Recent Advances in Supramolecular Polymers." Physical Properties of Polymers Handbook, 2nd Ed (2007): 715-722.
V. Gauba and J. D. Hartgerink "Self-Assembled heterotrimeric collagen triple helices directed through electrostatic interactions." J. Am. Chem. Soc., 129 (2007): 2683-2690.
Presentations
speaker. "Self-assembly of nanostructured fibers for tissue regeneration." Hope College Departmental Seminar, Holland, MI. (March 2007)
Speaker. "Multi-domain peptides - orthogonal control over nanofiber assembly." ACS National Meeting, Chicago, IL. (March 2007)
speaker. "ABC nanofibers." Materials Research Society National Meeting, San Francisco, CA. (April 2007)
speaker. "Self-assembled Nanofibers - Towards the Tissue Engineering of Teeth." Gordon Research Conference on Tissue Repair and Regeneration, New London, NH. (June 2007)
speaker. "Synthesis and Stability of Collagen Heterotrimers." IBB Symposium, Houston, TX. (July 2007)
Theses
He Dong, Ph.D. "Self-Assembly of Alpha-Helical and Beta-Sheet Nanofibers." (2008).(Thesis or Dissertation Director)
Sergery Paramonov, Ph. D. "Self-assembling Biomimetic Materials." (2006).(Thesis or Dissertation Director)
Awards
Camille-Dreyfus Teacher Scholar Award, Dreyfus Foundation. (July 2007).
Hamill Innovation Award, Institute of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Rice University. (April 2007).
NSF Career Award, National Science Foundation. (2007).
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