The Carlini Group focuses on breaking down barriers between endogenous biochemical signals and exogenous soft materials for the fabrication of smart devices. We aim to revisit biomedical problems that remain shockingly unsolved, by integrating structurally dynamic polymers and biomaterials into autonomous sense-response-feedback platforms.

Experimental Soft Matter and Biological Physics

The role of radicals in enzyme catalysis and degradation, development of electron bifurcating flavoproteins, and biogeochemical redox cycling of phosphorus.

Combining theory and experimentation to understand how navigational decisions come about in terms of neural-circuit computation.

Bio-nano technology including molecular mechanisms controlling self assembly, emergent properties of biomolecular systems from minerals to dynamically tunable color in octopus skin; translation to revolutionary new routes to semiconductors, optoelectronics and energy.

Soft condensed matter theory including biopolymer and biomembrane electrostatics, protein-membrane interactions, biopolymer solutions, and solution properties of conjugated polymers.

  Enzymology of enzymes that modify nucleic acids, including bacterial and human epigenetic enzymes with biomedical relevance. Protein engineering, inhibitor design. Drug development. Nanoparticle-based delivery of siRNA, proteins, and drugs into cells (cancer/embryonic stem cell) and animals. Laser-dependent spatio-temporal control of drug targeting.
    

The Saleh Group studies the physics of soft matter systems, with a focus on the active and passive micro-mechanics of biomolecules and polymers. These studies are pursued using modern instrumentation that permits insight into nanoscale structure and forces.

Design, synthesis, and characterization of new bioinorganic materials with an emphasis on understanding interface assembly & control of bioprocesses.