This project integrates vesiclar protein encapsulation, silica sol-gel synthesis, and electroporation into a novel silica sol-gel bio-encapsulation protocol. Contrary to direct entrapment where a protein is usually found immobilized on a silica surface displaying restricted mobility, this new protocol uses lipid vesicles to protect the protein from reactive silanol groups during silica sol-gel synthesis. The resultant protein-silica biocomposite material can be "activated" in a subsequent step where electroporation is used to destroy the vesicles and free the protein. The project goal is to develop a generic bio-encapsulation approach to enhance protein mobility by minimizing protein to silica surface attachment.
This award is supported jointly by the NSF and the Intelligence Community. The Approaches to Combat Terrorism Program in the Directorate for Mathematics and Physical Sciences supports new concepts in basic research and workforce development with the potential to contribute to national security.
