Our Mission
To investigate and analyze the structures of mucins in order to guide the design for creation of synthetic mucins that reproduces the same advantageous properties of its natural mucins and create protocols to characterize the mucins’ structures as well as its properties
Overview
All animals secrete mucuses that serve many different functions, including lubrication, adhesion, mineralization, and protection from predators and the environment. These advantageous properties are the result of mucin proteins-high molecular weight glycoproteins that form hydrogel networks. Molecular weight, glycosylation, and peptide sequence all contribute to mucin activity, and subtle changes in these structural elements may account for their functional differences. Through standardizing and applying purification and characterization methods, we can determine how these molecules work and thereby replicate these properties in synthetic, sustainable materials.
Goal One
Devise standardized and high-throughput protocols to characterize the structure and rheological properties of a diverse library of animal mucuses
Goal Two
Create synthetic mucin analogues that reproduce the advantageous behaviors of their natural counterparts and explore systematically relationships between structures and material properties
Goal Three
Develop high-throughput methods to synthesize and analyze the properties of synthetic mucins and use these platforms to investigate the interactions of mucin brushes with biological systems..