Our research is focused on the design, synthesis, physical characterization and performance testing of self-assembling, biofunctional materials.

 Special emphasis is directed toward:

(1) understanding the reactivity of naturally-occurring plasmalogens and their derivatives for biomarker, drug delivery and gene therapy applications;

(2) development of supported membrane protein biosensors that benefit from the stability provided by synthetic archael-like bolalipids;

(3) templated crystallization of histidine-tagged proteins at metal chelating lipid interfaces; and

(4) therapeutic applications of novel amphiphilic polymers, polyrotaxanes, peptidic hydrogels and cyclodextrin-containing materials produced using modern synthetic methodology.

Our research is being funded by the following agencies: