SUMMER RESEARCH TRAINING IN MEMBRANE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 2008 NSF REU SITE PROGRAM at the UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI
The Department of Chemical & Materials Engineering, College of Engineering is pleased to offer this research project as part of the 2008 summer NSF-REU Site Program administered by the Department of Pharmacology & Cell Biophysics.  Students interested in this project are urged to contact Professor Guliants to discover more about the project, learn what your responsibilities will be during the ten-week research training program.
Project #:  08 - 007        Faculty Supervisor/Mentor: Vadim Guliants, Ph.D., Professor, Chemical and Materials Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Cincinnati Email: vadim.guliants@uc.edu
Hierarchically Structured Biocatalytic Membranes
General background and significance of the project: This project seeks to design ordered nanoporous silica layers containing encapsulated enzymes as part of Biocatalytic Membranes. The fundamental scientific issues underlying the design of highly efficient Biocatalytic Membranes will be addressed for two well-characterized and important enzymatic reactions: (1) kinetic resolution of achiral molecules by Pseudomonas cepacia lipase and (2) cofactor-dependent selective oxidation of non-activated carbons by cytochrome P450 BM-3 oxygenase.
Proposed research and activities for the 10-week REU period: The research objectives of this summer REU student research are: (1)Investigate the effects of confined nanoscale environment and surface chemistry of nanoporous silica on biocatalytic efficiency of encapsulated enzymes, and (2) Develop fully integrated functioning biocatalytic membranes for kinetic resolution of achiral molecules and oxidation of non-activated C-H bonds
What the REU Student can gain from participating in this project: The REU student will obtain experience in enzyme immobilization and biocatalytic activity assays, repeatability of findings, and understanding of the role of confined nanoscale environment of biocatalytic membranes on enzyme activity. The experience will provide the REU student with bio-membrane science skills relevant to biotechnology and pharmaceutical research and discovery.