brian g. trewyn

 

ASSistant PROFESSOR

BS - University of Wisconsin, La Crosse
PhD - Iowa State University
Postdoctoral Study - Iowa State University

RESEARCH DESCRIPTION

Mesoporous nanomaterials have experienced an incredible escalation in morphology control through synthesis, surface functionalization, and applications in biological and catalytic fields.  These mesoporous nanomaterials have unique, segregated interior and exterior surfaces that can be individually manipulated to facilitate these applications.

One area my research group focuses on is the development of these high surface area, porous nanomaterials for biotechnology and biomedical applications such as biosensors, drug delivery, and gene transfection in animal and plant cells.  Our research group also centers on developing novel heterogeneous catalysts for biodiesel production, fine chemical sequestration and synthesis, and selective chemical production from synthesis gas.  We investigate the development of new nanomaterials for the biomedical, energy, and environmental issues that are needed to maintain our way of life.  Researchers in my group have the opportunity to synthesize new nanomaterials and investigate applications in biomedical,  botanical and catalytic applications.  They gain knowledge and experience in numerous synthetic and characterization methods and many cutting edge molecular biology and catalysis reactor techniques.  The knowledge and experience gained in my group is very relevant to current industrial science and technology.  Specifically, we have research projects developing heterogeneous catalysts for C-H bond activation, selective production of ethanol from synthesis gas, and synthesis of fine chemicals.  The  biotechnological research projects include synthesizing new biomaterials to enhance the biocompatibility and biodistribution of MSN, creating new mechanisms of controlled drug and protein release and delivery, and developing delivery biomaterials genetic material and hormones to plants. 

New exciting ventures in my lab include the research and development of novel intracellular catalysts supported in the pores of mesoporous materials and high surface area conductive materials.

 

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles Deliver DNA and Chemicals into Plants Francois Torney, Brian G. Trewyn, Victor S.-Y. Lin,* and Kan Wang,* Nature Nanotechnology, 2007, 2, 295-300.

Surface-Functionalized Nanoporous Catalysts for Renewable Chemistry Brian G. Trewyn, Hung-Ting Chen, and Victor S.-Y. Lin,  In Recoverable and Recyclable Catalysts, Maurizio Benaglia, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd: United Kingdom, 2009.

Interaction of Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles with Red Blood Cell Membranes: Size and Surface Effects Yannan Zhao, Xiaoxing Sun, Guannan Zhang, Brian G. Trewyn*, Igor I. Slowing*, Victor S.-Y. Lin, ACS Nano, 2011, 5, 1366.

Luciferase and Luciferin Co-immobilized Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticle Materials for Intracellular Biocatalysis Xiaoxing Sun, Yannan Zhao, Victor S.-Y. Lin, Igor I. Slowing*, and  Brian G. Trewyn*, Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2011, 113,18554-18557.

Functional Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for the Selective Sequestration of Free Fatty Acids from Microalgal Oil Justin S. Valenstein, Kapil Kandel, Forrest Melcher, Igor I. Slowing, Victor S.-Y. Lin, and Brian G. Trewyn,* ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2012, 4, 1003-1009.

Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticle Mediated Protein and DNA Codelivery to Plant Cells via Biolistic Method Susana Martin-Ortigosa, Justin S. Valenstein, Victor S.-Y. Lin, Brian G. Trewyn*, and Kan Wang*, Advanced Functional Materials, 2012, 17, 3576-3582.