We are broadly interested in the interactions of biological molecules (proteins and DNA) and assemblies (e.g., viruses and cells) with surfaces. We are exploring a range of approaches leading to the fabrication of surfaces with well-defined topography and chemistry.
Also, because liquid crystals are sensitive to the structure of surfaces over a range of biologically relevant length-scales (Figure 1), we are exploring the use of liquid crystals as probes (amplifiers) of biologically-relevant structure and phenomena on nanostructured surfaces.
For example, we have fabricated surfaces with a nanometer-scale topography that present receptors which bind specific proteins (Figure 2).
Because the size of the topography is approximately matched to the size of the proteins that bind to the receptors, liquid crystals can report whether or not proteins are bound to the receptors (Figure 3).
We can also pattern receptors onto surfaces such that a pattern appears in the liquid crystal when protein binds to the receptors (Figure 4).
We believe that liquid crystals may form the basis of broadly useful methods for the imaging of biological molecules on surfaces (e.g., in protein chips). Such methods are needed to advance our understanding of how proteins control the functioning of cells as well to provide rapid and sensitive methods for clinical diagnosis.