NanoBioScience Institute 

NBEC - Major Research Groups

Biomolecular Probes & Devices
(Group Leader: Dr. G. Mao & Dr. Peter Hoffman). 

Dr. Mao will lead the group on biomembrane and biomolecular probes.  Dr. Hoffman will lead the group on the need-based development of nano-devices.  Dr. Mao and Dr. Hoffman will develop new imaging and molecular probes for nanotechnological and biomedical applications. Atomic Force Microscopy is a particularly adaptable characterization device for macromolecular structure-function studies. One of the thrust areas is the biomembrane-based nano-device development. Lipid bilayers and vesicles serve as models for understanding the biological functions of biomembranes and cells and show increasing applications in drug encapsulation, biosensors, and gene therapy.  This group is capable of making lipid bilayers and reconstituted biomembranes by any of the following methods: 1) supported lipid bilayers by vesicle fusion or Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) dip coating, 2) tethered bilayer membranes by hydrophilic linkers or biotinylated receptors, 3) polymer-supported lipid layers, 4) micro-arrayed lipid layers, and 5) black lipid membranes spanning the holes of porous supports.  The lipid membranes can be tailored to contain proteins, DNA, polymers as well as nanoparticles. As molecular probes, the molecular recognition interactions between external agents and membrane surface groups can be detected and quantified using single molecular force spectroscopy. The goal of this group is to establish a core technology in the fabrication of AFM-based molecular probes and devices at Wayne State University and to provide such technology to other nano-groups.

Updated: 04/23/2008