Novel Bioactive Inorganic MaterialsChalla V. Kumar, University of Connecticut, DMR 0300631

• Novel, benign, and general method was developed to intercalate enzymes in inorganic layered -Zr(HPO4)2H2O (A-D)

• These materials show strong promise for the economic production of biofuels.

• Novel, DNA-based hybrid nanobiocatalysts were synthesized for the first time (E).

• DNA made significant improvements in enzyme structure and activity. This is a significant progress for biocatalytic function.

• These materials show high promise for improving the function of biosensors.

R

Zr(IV)

PO3

R

R = OH

O

OH

HO O

OH

OH

O

HO

OHO

ZrP -ZrCMP -ZrCEP

C

B

A

Exfoliation

Intercalated Enzyme

-Zr(HPO4)2H2O

D E

Enzyme/DNA/ZrP

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Novel Bioactive Inorganic MaterialsChalla V. Kumar, University of Connecticut, DMR 0300631

• Education - Several graduate and undergraduate students were trained

• Undergraduate Research - numerous Chemistry Interns and summer REU students were trained in Inorganic Materials Research

• High School outreach- Under the Mentor Connection Program at UCONN, each summer two to four high school students spent three weeks in our laboratory synthesizing novel Inorganic Materials

• Organized Odyssey 2006 Chemistry Fair for Middle School students

• Participated each year in ‘Kids are Scientists Too’ summer program for elementary school children.

Mentor Connection ParticipantFrom Putnam High School 2005.

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