A team of researchers has uncovered critical information
that could help scientists understand how protein polymers interact with other
self-assembling biopolymers. The research helps explain naturally occurring
nano-material within cells and could one day lead to engineered bio-composites
for drug delivery, artificial tissue, bio-sensing, or cancer diagnosis.
Results of this study, “Bionanocomposites: Differential
Effects of Cellulose Nanocrystals on Protein Diblock Copolymers,” were recently
published in the American Chemical Society’s BioMacromolecules. The findings
were the result of a collaborative research project from the Polytechnic
Institute of New York University (NYU-Poly) Montclare Lab for Protein
Engineering and Molecular Design under the direction of Associate Professor of
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Jin K. Montclare.