Abstract: 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 nature-inspired sunlight energy conversion through ​“artificial photosynthesis” to cell modulation through optogenetics. The evolution of a new function, which goes far beyond the individual original inorganic particles and organic molecules, requires a powerful combination of chemical synthesis, fabrication, synthetic biology, and self-assembly into hybrid hierarchical structures. Microbial rhodopsins are transmembrane protein channels that are capable of light-guided translocation of ions across the lipid membrane. In our recent works, we constructed hybrids based on inorganic nanoparticles engineered with natural light-driven proton pump bacteriorhodopsin that resulted in new artificial photosynthesis function, such as H2 production, CO2 reduction to value-added chemicals, and cell-like ATP synthesis. In our other project, we utilized radioluminescent nanoparticles, which absorb X-ray energy and convert it into optical luminescence. When these nanoparticles are introduced into the brain, they serve as an in vivo source of photons for high-fidelity modulation of a light-gated channelrhodopsin in neurons, thus offering a new wireless optogentic approach.

Bio: Dr. Elena A. Rozhkova, earned her Ph.D. in Chemistry from the Moscow State University of Fine Chemical Technology (named after Lomonosov), Russia. As a member of the Nanophotonics and Biofunctional Structures (nPBS) Group at Argonne, she is focusing on development of functional nano-architectures using chemical synthesis, microfabrication, synthetic biology and biochemistry approaches for application in energy conversion and modulation of signaling pathways at the nano-bio interface.