Elena Rozhkova, Ph.D., at the Wilson Lecture Series
Merging Nanotechnology & Synthetic Biology toward Directed Evolution of Energy Materials
The interface between nanomaterials and biological systems, the living and synthetic worlds, has evolved into a new science, nanobiotechnology, which deals with the design of materials for a variety of applications, from the environmentally friendly energy sources to neural modulation through optogenetics. The evolution of a new function, which goes far beyond the individual original inorganic particles and biological entities, requires a powerful combination of chemical synthesis, fabrication, synthetic biology, and self-assembly into hybrid hierarchical structures. In our work, we use microbial rhodopsins, transmembrane protein channels that are capable of light-guided translocation of ions across the lipid membrane. We demonstrated that by combining them with inorganic nanostructures they can function as artificial photosynthesis. Besides, by interfacing channelrhodopsin with XEOL nanoparticles we have developed wireless X-ray modulation of brain neurons.
About the speaker
Elena Rozhkova earned her Ph.D. in Chemistry from Moscow State University of Fine Chemical Technology, Russia. After completing JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship in Tohoku University, Japan, she joined Department of Chemistry, Princeton University as a Research Staff member. Since 2007 she is a Staff Scientist at the Center for Nanoscale Materials at Argonne National Laboratory. Her area of research is nanoscale biohybrid architectures for energy conversion and biomodulation at the nano-bio interface. She is a recipient of professional awards: Brain Research Foundation Fay/Frank Women’s Council, the University of Chicago Argonne Board of Governors Distinguished Performance “In recognition of pioneering interdisciplinary cancer treatment research via bio-functionalized vortex structures”, the Prof. M. J. Nanjan Fourth Endowment Lecture and Award “For outstanding contributions in the field of nano-biotechnology," the University of Madras, India. She is a 2021/22 IEEE NC Distinguished Lecturer.