Light - Emitting Stable Biocomposites Films

Proteins form the very basis of life. They regulate a variety of activities in all known organisms, from replication of the genetic code to transporting oxygen, and are responsible for regulating the cellular machinery and determining the phenotype of an organism. From a material-science point of view, proteins can serve as excellent building blocks for the development of new structures, composites, and devices. In this talk, I will cover some of our efforts in this direction. In short, we exploit the hydrophobic voids and the reduction properties of some glycoproteins to form new biocomposites materials.

Recently we demonstrated a stable film that can be used for White LED applications. This bio-composite material, entirely composed of biological- (crystalline nano-cellulose and porcine gastric mucin) and organic- (light emitting dyes) compounds exhibits excellent optical and mechanical properties as well as resistance to heat, humidity, and UV radiation.

We further show that a protein templated synthesis can be used to incorporate various types of metals and alloys in the protein matrix. Examples include Chiral Ag nanoparticles, Pd and Pd-Ag alloys and Au nanoparticles and micro-crystals. The latter is successfully used as a local heat source used in a light-induced thermotherapeutic applications.