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Centre for Materials Physics

Themes

Self-assembling protein motor model designed to walk along a DNA track & theoretical performance graph for the motor indicating how processivity (steps completed before dissociation) is expected to vary with the flexibility of the motor structure.

Self-assembling protein motor model designed to walk along
a DNA track & theoretical performance graph for the motor
indicating how processivity (steps completed before dissociation)
is expected to vary with flexibility of the motor structure.

Our research interests span both theoretical and experimental aspects of soft condensed matter and biological physics. Specific research interests include the study of non-equilibrium phenomena in complex fluids, hydrodynamic instabilities in biologically active suspensions, molecular rheology, polymer relaxation mechanisms, organic semi-conductors, probing the structure and dynamics of liquid crystal layer formation, the design of self-assembling systems and the physics of nanoscale motion. Simulation methodologies and computational techniques used by members of the group can lead to greater understanding of the physics of light emitting polymers and bio inspired photovoltaic solar cell structures which are studied in the condensed matter section.

A variety of experimental and computational techniques is used within the group, ranging from from dual polarization interferometry and electro-optic studies through to neutron and X ray scattering, rheology, and ion bean analysis.


1. Theory and simulation of soft condensed matter and biological physics


Academic staff: Suzanne Fielding and Tom McLeish

  • Hydrodynamic instabilities and nonlinear dynamics of complex fluids
  • Structure and dynamics of multi-component complex fluids
  • Rheology of soft glassy materials
  • Transition to viscoelastic turbulence
  • Hydrodynamics and rheology of biologically active suspensions
  • Molecular rheology and processing of entangled polymeric fluids
  • Protein dynamics, folding and interactions
  • Biological self-assembly

2. Experimental biomolecular design approach to molecular biology


Academic staff: Beth Bromley

  • The design of a novel protein based motor that walks along DNA
  • The design of sequences that adopt multiple native states
  • Peptide based methods for changes in chemical potential to mechanical outputs
  • Understanding the energy landscape of coiled-coil oligomerization
  • The design of self-assembling fibre systems

More details on BioMolecular Design


3. Experimental structure and dynamics of biological soft matter


Academic staff: John Girkin and Gordon Love

  • Optical tweezers
  • High speed particle tracking
  • Nano-rheological measurement using optical methods
  • Rheology within living cells and organisms
  • Real-time monitoring of protein polymerisation and breakup within biological samples
  • Applications of liquid crystals: liquid crystal adaptive optics and liquid crystal lenses
  • High speed phase modulation using polymer dispersed network liquid crystals