University of Washington
Grant: $300,000 - National Science Foundation - Jul. 24, 2009
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Award Description: It is proposed in this work to develop nonfouling synthetic peptides composed of natural amino acid residues. Excellent nonfouling properties are essential for their biomedical applications. For example, they can be used as artificial skins to prevent the immune response from the patient's body upon material implantation. These synthetic peptide-based materials are better than those based on silk proteins, collagens from non-human sources or acellular scaffolds currently being explored as artificial skins. Since these peptides are synthesized from natural amino acids, they can be slowly degraded and metabolized without generating any potential harmful by-products, making them more body friendly than synthetic materials such as poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG).
Project Description: This NSF ARRA grant started on 8/1/09. One graduate student (Andrew White) started to work on this project since 9/16/09. He will work on both experimental and simulation studies of nonfouling peptides. A peptide was ordered for NMR studies for his work. One undergraduate student (Kristen Holland) has been working on this project since 8/1/09 and will continue to work with us in the next few quarters. She has been working on (a) nonfouling hydrogels on surfaces (eventually peptide nonfouling hydrogels) and (b) vapor-phase deposition of polymer initiators needed for nonfouling coatings without organic solvents.
Jobs Summary: Not Applicable this Quarter (Total jobs reported: 0)
Project Status: Less Than 50% Completed
This award's data was last updated on Jul. 24, 2009. Help expand these official descriptions using the wiki below.
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