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THE JANG LAB AIMS TO PROVIDE FUNDAMENTAL INSIGHTS AND PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS IN THE FIELD OF SUPRAMOLECULAR BIOMATERIALS. We are aiming at engineering structural and functional properties of supramolecular biomaterials for target applications including synthetic cells, smart capsules, micro-reactors, antibacterial, and drug release coatings. The vision of our lab is to utilize soft matter assembly and recombinant technology for the creation of advanced biomaterials. From the deep understanding of the interactions between soft matters, including polymers, proteins, and colloids, we develop supramolecular biomaterials to present target microscopic structure, mechanical properties, and functionality. We also apply recombinant protein technology to rationally design functional building blocks. The supramolecular biomaterials developed in my research group include multicompartment vesicles, porous thin films, multilayer coatings, and a variety of self-assembled structures in solutions or at surfaces.
MULTICOMPARTMENT PROTEIN VESICLES FOR PROTOCELL DEVELOPMENT
We create multicompartment vesicles made from functional globular fusion proteins with controlled geometry by tuning their self-assembly or using microfluidics. Cell sized-protein vesicles carry multiple biological cargoes such as therapeutic proteins and genes for de novo protein synthesis, which enables the rational design of hierarchically ordered protein vesicles to mimic essential cellular functions.
FUNCTIONAL NANOTHIN FILMS FOR CELL FATE CONTROL
We develop functional thin films and coatings to control cell fate at the surfaces. We precisely control surface structure, chemistry, and mechanical properties of polymeric thin films to achieve target functionality to tailor cellular adhesion, proliferation, and death. The functional thin films have a variety of biomedical applications, such as stem cell co-culture platforms, antibacterial coatings, and drug release patches.
PHASE STUDY OF GLOBULAR PROTEIN-FUSED DIBLOCK COPOLYMERS
We provide the fundamental understanding of the self-assembly of globular proteins fused with diblock copolymers that exhibit complex interactions. We study the phase transition/separation behavior of the globular fusion proteins in solution and at interface/surface under diverse physical and chemical stimuli, mainly using scattering and microscopic techniques. This study enables us to create a new supramolecular nanostructure with functional globular proteins, providing the potential uses for sensing.
We create multicompartment vesicles made from functional globular fusion proteins with controlled geometry by tuning their self-assembly or using microfluidics. Cell sized-protein vesicles carry multiple biological cargoes such as therapeutic proteins and genes for de novo protein synthesis, which enables the rational design of hierarchically ordered protein vesicles to mimic essential cellular functions.
FUNCTIONAL NANOTHIN FILMS FOR CELL FATE CONTROL
We develop functional thin films and coatings to control cell fate at the surfaces. We precisely control surface structure, chemistry, and mechanical properties of polymeric thin films to achieve target functionality to tailor cellular adhesion, proliferation, and death. The functional thin films have a variety of biomedical applications, such as stem cell co-culture platforms, antibacterial coatings, and drug release patches.
PHASE STUDY OF GLOBULAR PROTEIN-FUSED DIBLOCK COPOLYMERS
We provide the fundamental understanding of the self-assembly of globular proteins fused with diblock copolymers that exhibit complex interactions. We study the phase transition/separation behavior of the globular fusion proteins in solution and at interface/surface under diverse physical and chemical stimuli, mainly using scattering and microscopic techniques. This study enables us to create a new supramolecular nanostructure with functional globular proteins, providing the potential uses for sensing.
