The innovation engine for new materials

William Hardy

2007 Summer Intern

University: 

Jackson State University

Major: 

Chemistry

Mentor(s): 

Luis Campos

Faculty Sponsor(s): 

Craig Hawker

Faculty Sponsor's Department(s): 

Materials

Project Title: 

SYNTHESIS OF SILICA/POLYMER NANOPARTICLES FOR BIOASSAYS

Project Description: 

Proteins regulate biochemical pathways in living cells. The over or under expression of these biochemical pathways lead to various diseases. Thus, the development of an analytical bioassay for proteins is of the utmost importance for biomedical research. Nanoparticles have the potential to be luminescent probes for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes because of size compatibility to many important biomolecules and their novel optical, electronic, and magnetic properties. The controlled synthesis of nanocomposite materials consisting of an inorganic nanoparticle encapsulated within polymer shells is an area of great focus. The polymer shell determines the chemical properties and the interaction with the environment, while the inorganic core and polymer concomitantly control the physical properties (ie. the size and shape) of the composite nanoparticle. In this research, the desire is to synthesize silicafluorescent dye- polymer- biomarker composites that have the ability to detect bioassays (proteins) more efficiently, with higher sensitivity and lower cost.