POLY 262 Interactions of biomolecules with inorganic materials : principles, applications and future prospects

In the search for new materials with desired functional properties and their processing technologies, scientists have focused on the sophistication exhibited by biological organisms in building materials structures as an inspirational source. This control is often a result of molecular interactions and recognition between biological molecules such as peptides and proteins and inorganic materials. We present a few examples of our current level of understanding of inorganic materials-biomolecule interactions from the biomineralization perspective and discuss the role that combinatorial approaches such as phage and cell display methods can play in identifying peptides that interact with a wide range of natural and non-natural mineral surfaces. In order to identify the rules that govern biomolecule-inorganic materials interactions at the molecular level, we have studied the effects of the structure and chemistry of inorganic materials on peptide binding. On the other hand, we have correlated the characteristics of inorganic materials generated in vitro in the presence of biomolecules with the chemical, physical and biological features of biomolecules. Molecular dynamic (MD) simulations of biomolecules have been used to provide information on their conformations, solvent accessible surfaces and insights into the mechanisms underpinning the interactions with inorganic materials. It is believed that the results obtained will increase our understanding of biomolecule-inorganic mineral interactions and this knowledge will be utilised to develop novel functional materials and new synthetic approaches to such materials