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Sylvia Daunert
Gill Eminent Professor of Analytical and Biological Chemistry
Development of Stimuli-Responsive Hydrogels
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| One of the areas of research in our laboratory involves the development of stimuli-responsive hydrogels. These materials are hydrophilic polymers that contain proteins, which undergo a conformational change upon the interaction with the target analyte. A low affinity ligand of the protein is also covalently |
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| bound in the hydrogel network. This ligand binds to the protein, creating chemical crosslinks into the hydrogel network. Upon the addition of the target analyte (with higher affinity for the protein), the protein prefers to release the low affinity ligand and bind to the free analyte. The result is the rupture of the chemical crosslinks in the hydrogel, and the material swells. These stimuli-responsive hydrogels take advantage of the high selectivity of the proteins, and are ideal for the development of miniature reagentless analytical sensors, and drug delivery devices. We have developed biomaterials and microlenses incorporating stimuli-responsive hydrogels and the protein Calmodulin, which were responsive to the class of anti-depressant drugs. In the absence of the drug, the microlenses are in a shrunk state, while in the presence of the drug, they swell and changing their lensing/focusing properties. The ability of these hydrogel networks to swell/shrink in response to a (bio)chemical stimulus allows for this new class of polymers to be employed as chemically-tunable microlenses. The undergraduate project will involve the development of glucose-responsive hydrogel networks based on the genetically engineered protein Glucose Binding Protein (GBP). The REU student will be involved in the process of protein expression, sensor development, and hydrogel preparation and characterization. The glucose-responsive hydrogel developed will be integrated in a microfabricated device to evaluate its suitability for the development of insulin responsive drug delivery devices for the management of diabetes. Moreover, the feasibility of developing glucose-responsive microlenses will be evaluated. |
Further details of Dr. Daunert's work are given on the Chemistry website. |
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