Protein assemblies on graphene and other two-dimensional nanomaterials

Supervisory Team:
Lead supervisor: Dr Stefan Bagby (Department of Biology & Biochemistry)
Second supervisor: Dr Adelina Ilie (Department of Physics)

This project will combine biochemical and physical approaches to explore the potential of protein immobilisation on nanosheets including graphene and related two-dimensional materials such as transition metal dichalcogenides (e.g. MoS2). The aim is to develop novel, nanosheet-based protein assemblies and arrays. Such protein-nanosheet assemblies have numerous potential applications in the biological and physical sciences, including molecular recognition, molecular isolation, molecular sensing, and molecular assays; drug discovery; and medical diagnostics. It is envisaged that protein-nanosheet assemblies can be used as the basis of novel electronic nanodevices or smart materials/systems.

Graphene and transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) layers are both atomically flat, two-dimensional materials; this is expected to promote ordered assembly of biomolecules, with differences arising due to the different surface chemistry of graphene and TMDs. These two-dimensional materials offer other contrasting properties: while graphene is a conductor with extreme (down to single molecule) sensitivity to environmental changes, TMDs are semiconductors, meaning that they have a well defined band gap and, thus, optical response, and can be incorporated in digital transistors (with a clear On/Off switching behaviour). Biomolecules have complementary, in-built capabilities for reproducible production and for assembly, and they can be functionalised as required.

Protocols will be developed for non-covalent and/or covalent attachment on graphene and TMD nanosheets of classes of biomolecules ranging from simple, single-function proteins (such as cytochrome c and haemoglobin), to supramolecular complexes, such as the core of E2 (dihydrolipoyl acyltransferase), that can be used as a scaffold for the assembly of multi-functional nanoparticles. Such 2D nanosheet-protein assemblies will be tailored to respond to external stimuli and, hence, provide modulated functions to be exploited in novel electronic devices, and smart materials and systems.

The research will be conducted in collaboration between supervisors in the Department of Biology and Biochemistry and the Department of Physics, with possible input from the Department of Chemistry, and will provide excellent opportunities for interdisciplinary training, covering biochemistry, bionanotechnology, materials science and physical characterization. A manuscript describing our research to date in this area is cited in the reference list.

Anticipated start date: 2 October 2017