Postdoc at @CUBoulder on AFM-FS with proteins. PhD completed with @DouganGroup @universityLeeds on protein hydrogels and microbubbles 🔬 She/her
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ALT Fibrous networks constructed from high aspect ratio protein building blocks are ubiquitous in nature. Despite this ubiquity, the functional advantage of such building blocks over globular proteins is not understood. To answer this question, we engineered hydrogel network building blocks with varying numbers of protein L domains to control the aspect ratio. The mechanical and structural properties of photochemically crosslinked protein L networks were then characterised using shear rheology and small angle neutron scattering. We show that aspect ratio is a crucial property that defines network architecture and mechanics, by shifting the formation from translationally diffusion dominated to rotationally diffusion dominated. Additionally, we demonstrate that a similar transition is observed in the model living system: fibrin blood clot networks. The functional advantages of this transition are increased mechanical strength and the rapid assembly of homogenous networks.
ALT Schematic depicting microbubbles (blue spheres) encompassed within a folded protein hydrogel network (red lines), where the hydrogel network is composed of cross-linked folded proteins (red spheres). The inset of the MB shows drug molecules (green triangle) attached to the lipid shell, where the lipid shell stabilises the gas core.
ALT Schematic depicting microbubbles (blue spheres) encompassed within a folded protein hydrogel network (red lines), where the hydrogel network is composed of cross-linked folded proteins (red spheres). The inset of the MB shows drug molecules (green triangle) attached to the lipid shell, where the lipid shell stabilises the gas core
ALT Cartoon depicting microbubbles (blue spheres) encompassed within a folded protein hydrogel network (red lines), where the hydrogel network is composed of cross-linked folded proteins (red spheres). The inset of the MB shows drug molecules (green triangle) attached to the lipid shell, where the lipid shell stabilises the gas core
