Protein and Surfactant Corona Measurement on Dispersed Carbon Nanotubes
This grant aims to measure the protein/surfactant shell around carbon nanotubes to predict their behavior in biological and environmental settings.
This grant is no longer accepting proposals
NRC Research Associateship Programs has archived this opportunity.
Funder: NRC Research Associateship Programs
Due Dates: February 1, 2025 | May 1, 2025 | August 1, 2025 | November 1, 2025
Funding Amounts: $82,764 stipend plus $3,000 travel allowance; typical appointment duration 2 years.
Summary: Postdoctoral fellowship to measure the protein and surfactant corona on dispersed carbon nanotubes to predict their behavior in biological and environmental contexts.
Key Information: Open to U.S. citizens with a doctoral degree earned within the last 5 years; research conducted on-site at NIST in Gaithersburg, MD; applicants must contact the Research Adviser prior to applying.
Description
This postdoctoral research opportunity at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) focuses on characterizing the shell of protein or surfactant molecules that adsorb onto dispersed carbon nanotubes. This "corona" layer, whether formed in biological fluids like serum or in non-biological dispersions, critically influences the nanotubes' interactions with their environment. Understanding the structure and nature of these dispersing molecules will enable predictions of properties such as zeta potential and provide insights into the effects and potential accumulation sites of nanotubes in the human body and the environment.
Recent advances at NIST and other institutions have produced purified nanotube samples with known length, purity, and chirality, which serve as the basis for this research. The project aims to measure and analyze the adsorbed molecular shell to better understand nanotube behavior and interactions.
Keywords associated with this research include: Nanotube, SWNT, SWCNT, Protein, Surfactant, Adsorption, SPR, Phage, Scattering.
