Exploring the bionanoscale: from nanoparticle formation to their interactions with biological systems

Abstract: The nanoscale is the natural length scale of biology. Nanoparticles interacting with proteins, membranes, and DNA leads to a series of nanoparticle/biological interfaces that depend on biophysicochemical interactions. Probing these interfaces allows identification of critical properties and the ability to predict the impacts and strategies to control these features. Proteins control cellular functions, such as signaling and enzymatic activity, while both natural and engineered nanoparticles have emerged as pharmaceuticals, biosensors, and immunotherapeutic. Elucidating the mechanisms through which these molecules interact with each other remains a key step in understanding these structures and utilizing them in biological applications. We capitalize on molecular simulations, recent developments in machine learning and a variety of experiments and integrate information across different fields to provide a holistic description of the interactions of nanoparticles with biological systems, such as cellular membranes and proteins. In this talk, I will focus on the mechanisms of formation of organic nanoparticles from anthropogenic sources and report on the biological interfaces that nanoparticles may encounter when interacting with proteins and various membranes. Starting from the mechanisms of chemical and physical growth of nanomaterials in high temperature regimes, I will examine the interactions of organic compounds with proteins present in bacteria biofilms with the goal of designing compounds that can be used to control microorganisms. I will then extend the approach to introduce a new model to compute the time of entry of a variety of compounds into mammalian cell membranes and viral envelope.

Bio: Prof. Angela Violi is Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Mechanical, Chemical Engineering and Biophysics at the University of Michigan. She a B.S. degree and Ph.D., both in chemical engineering from the University of Naples, Federico II, Italy. She then worked as Postdoc and Research Associate at the University of Utah in one of the 5 Centers created through the Department of Energy's Advanced Simulation and Computing Program, whose objective was to develop science-based tools for the numerical simulation of accidental fires and explosions. Professor Violi’s research interests lie at the intersection of, nanoscience, biomedical science and combustion. Her research involves the study, through modeling and simulation, of nanoparticle formation, the impact of these particles on the environment, and human health, as well as the design of nanomaterials for biomedical applications, such as control of bacterial communities. 

Zoom Link: https://stanford.zoom.us/j/92153920201?pwd=YW5PV1kxek9Cd2xuY0xwWU9zNWdWUT09

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