MRS NEWS
- PDF / 763,607 Bytes
- 6 Pages / 612 x 792 pts (letter) Page_size
- 11 Downloads / 147 Views
MRS NEWS
Timothy Deming Named 2003 Outstanding Young Investigator for Work in Polymers Timothy Deming, an that mimics the silicaassociate professor of maproducing protein siliterials and chemistry at catein. A similar block the University of Califorcopolypeptide has subnia—Santa Barbara, has sequently been used to been named the 2003 Maassemble 10-nm-diameterials Research Society ter hollow nanoparticles Outstanding Young Inin which the inner layer vestigator (OYI). He is is Au and the outer is cited for his “discovery of SiO2. The assembly prinsynthetic methods to prociple makes use of the duce polypeptide homopolyelectrolyte nature of polymers and block coone block in water that polymers with exquisite attracts the negatively control of block length, charged SiO2 and the –SH Timothy Deming sequence, and secondary groups on the other block structure and the interdisthat bind to Au. These ciplinary exploitation of layered hollow spheres these materials to yield unique hydroare porous but robust, surviving calcinagels and inorganic materials.” The OYI tions that remove the block copolypeptide Award recognizes outstanding interdisat temperatures of up to 1100°C. ciplinary materials research by a young In another interdisciplinary collaborascientist or engineer. Deming will pretive work led by Deming, hydrogels were sent his award talk during the 2003 formed from exceptionally low concenMRS Spring Meeting on April 23 at trations of block copolypeptide in water. 12:45 p.m. in Salon 7 of the San The hydrogels can be broken down Francisco Marriott Hotel. The title of his under large shear strains but reform very presentation is “Synthetic Polypeptides: rapidly when shearing has ceased. New Developments in an Old Field.” Deming received his BS degree in chemDeming’s pioneering research on istry from the University of California— transition-metal initiators for the syntheIrvine in 1989 and graduated with a PhD sis of copolypeptides has provided a degree in chemistry from UC—Berkeley new approach to the 50-year-old estabunder Bruce Novak in 1993. After a lished method of preparation. His polyNational Institutes of Health postdoctoral merization schemes have implications fellowship at the University of Massafor chemistry, physics, biology, and biochusetts—Amherst with David Tirrell, medical engineering. The potential appliDeming joined the Materials Department cations range from biomedical materials faculty at UC—Santa Barbara in 1995. He (e.g., tissue-engineering scaffolds and currently holds a joint appointment in the drug carriers) to models for protein foldMaterials and Chemistry Departments, ing and assembly. where he was promoted to associate proBy careful choice of metal and ligand, fessor in 1999. His research interests Deming prepared nickel, cobalt, and include polypeptide synthesis, selfiron catalysts for living polymerization assembly of block copolypeptides, and of N-carboxy α-amino acid anhydrides biological activity in polypeptides, for (NCAs) to form polypeptides with conwhich he has received young investiga
