North Carolina Biomolecular Engineering and Materials Applications Center (NC-BEMAC).

Abstract : The overall objective of this program was to initiate a multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional research program involving the innovative application of biotechnology to materials science problems. Techniques for the immobilization and activity characterization of bovine carbonic anhydrase on porous silica beads and graphite rods have been developed. The enzyme immobilized on porous silica beads maintains catalytic activity in nearly anhydrous organic solvents. We have also produced polyclonal (rabbit) and monoclonal (murine) antibodies to carbonic anhydrase for enzyme immobilization applications. We have successfully prepared and characterized several low molecular weight complexes containing low valent transition metals which have potential for binding and activating small, biologically, relevant molecules. Multinuclear variable temperature NMR has been successfully utilized to study the solution dynamics of these complexes. A polyanionic sulfated glycoprotein was isolated from a molluscan shell, combined with various polymeric substrates, and found to induce mineralization at the interface with an aqueous solution. The minerals defined included various forms of calcium carbonate and of calcium phosphate. In order to induce bulk mineralization, strong hydrogels were prepared and seeded with a calcium phosphate microphase and further extensive mineralization was achieved throughout the material. Keywords: Cobalt; Zinc; Nickel; Biomaterials; Electrocatalysis, Biocatalysis, Biomineralization.