Systems Biology in Two Dimensions: Understanding and Engineering Membranes as Dynamical Systems

The theme of our NIH Nanomedicine Development Center is design of biomimetic nanoconductors and devices utilizing nanoconductors. The model theoretical systems are native and mutant biological channels and other ion transport proteins and synthetic channels, and heterogenous membranes containing channels and transporters. The model experimental systems are engineered protein channels and synthetic channels in isolation, and in self-assembled membranes supported on nanoporous silicon scaffolds. The ultimate goal is to understand how biomimetic nanoscale design can be utilized in devices to achieve the functions that membrane systems accomplish in biological systems: a) Electrical and electrochemical signaling, b) generation of osmotic pressures and flows, c) generation of electrical power, and d).energy transduction.