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Content archived on 2024-05-28

On/Off-Switchable Smart Nanobioreactors

Objective

Nanobioreactor, a fascinating technology, is a latest combination of nanobiotechnology with advanced functional materials, are becoming promising tools for sensitive and selective novel biosensors. The aim of this research is to develop, synthesize and apply a new generation of stimuli-responsive switch-like nanobioreactors which own the self-switching textural ability to allow the specific recognition of target bioanalytes. The implementation of the project could generate important contributions to the development of stimuli-responsive advanced nano-materials for the various applications, such biocatalysts and nanobiosensors. To achieve the goals, a fundamental route to development of stimuli-responsive advanced materials is showed below: first, cationic polystyrene (PS) particles formed via emulsifier-free polymerization will be used as templates to prepare core-shell hybrid PS/SiO2 via the ammonia-catalyzed hydrolysis and condensation of (3-Mercaptopropyl) trimethoxysilane, Tetraethylorthosilicate and methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane. In the second step, cationic PS templates will be removed in toluene solution to form hollow silica particles. Subsequently, Au3+ will be assembled into inner pore of hollow silica through Au-S interaction and then reduced into nanoclusters by sodium borohydride. Finally, N-isopropylacylamide and 2-acrylamide-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid will be alternately grafted onto the surface of hollow silica particles, in the presence of N,N’-methylenebisacrylamide, to form an interpenetrating polymer network. The resulting nanoreactors would be expected to demonstrate on/off switchable behavior upon the contact with external stimuli such as temperature.

Call for proposal

FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IIF
See other projects for this call

Coordinator

CRANFIELD UNIVERSITY
EU contribution
€ 210 092,80
Address
College Road
MK43 0AL Cranfield - Bedfordshire
United Kingdom

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Region
East of England Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Central Bedfordshire
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Administrative Contact
Martin Ellis (Mr.)
Links
Total cost
No data