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SUMMARY:Ligand-receptor binding in confined environments: from specific pr
 otein adsorption to nanoparticle attachment and drug delivery - Professor 
 Igal Szleifer\, Northwestern University\, Department of Biomedical Enginee
 ring\, Department of Chemistry\, and Department of Chemical and Biological
  Engineering
DTSTART:20090206T143000Z
DTEND:20090206T153000Z
UID:TALK16787@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Mica Green
DESCRIPTION:Ligand-receptor binding is a ubiquitous process in biology and
  it has been the basis for the design of biosensors and drug delivery syst
 ems. The question that we address in this presentation is what is the best
  way to optimize binding when the ligands and receptors are in a confined 
 environment. This important practical question is one example of the more 
 general problem of the effect of confinement in chemical equilibrium react
 ions. To understand this question we will present predictions form a molec
 ular theoretical approach that enables us to understand the relationship b
 etween molecular organization\, packing and ligand-receptor binding. Expli
 cit comparisons with experimental observations will be shown where the pre
 dictions of the theory are in very good agreement with experimental observ
 ations. We will discuss two different scenarios. The first problem relates
  to the way in which the binding of proteins to surfaces and nanoparticles
  can be optimized using polymer molecules as spacers. The second case invo
 lves the binding of polymer-coated nanoparticles (or micelles) to surfaces
 . In these systems we discuss the role that surface mobility of the ligand
  spacers has on the binding and how this effect can be used to optimize ta
 rgeted drug delivery. We will concentrate on the case in which the particl
 es are coated with mixtures of spacers that can be used to optimize bindin
 g to specific cells. The synergetic effect of electrostatic interactions a
 nd ligand-receptor binding will be discussed in detail. The results of the
  theory will be summarized in terms of how to design surface coatings for 
 surfaces and nanoparticles that optimize binding by the proper understandi
 ng of the coupling between molecular interactions\, confinement and the fl
 exibility of polymer molecules.
LOCATION:Pfizer Lecture Theatre\, Department of Chemistry\, Lensfield Road
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