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SUMMER RESEARCH TRAINING IN MEMBRANE SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY 2009 NSF REU SITE PROGRAM at the |
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The Department of Chemical &
Materials Engineering, College of Engineering is pleased to offer this
research project as part of the 2009 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. |
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Project #: 09 - 007 Faculty Supervisor/Mentor: Vadim Guliants, Ph.D., Professor, Chemical and Materials Engineering, Email: vadim.guliants@uc.edu |
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Hierarchically Structured
Biocatalytic Membranes |
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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. |
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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 |
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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. |
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