BioNanomaterials Group

Our group conducts bionanocience research that applies nanoscience and nanotechnology to problems for national biosecurity interests. We are a multidisciplinary team with expertise in physics, chemistry, materials science and biology.  This unique cross cutting expertise allows us to work together on basic and applied research toward LLNLʼs mission in nonproliferation, counterterrorism and life sciences. Our current research focus includes developing novel detection methods for biological agents, advanced bioanalytical and molecular imaging instrumentations for nanoscale characterization, novel carbon nanotube fabrics that repels chemical and biological agents and nanolipidprotein technology as a medical countermeasure to biological threats.

Recent Publications

Kang Rae Cho, James J. De Yoreo, “Probing protein assembly, biomineralization, and biomolecular interactions by atomic force microscopy”, NanoCellBiology - Multimodal Imaging in Biology & MedicineChapter 5 (p85-130), (Editors: Bhanu Jena, Douglas Taatjes, Print ISBN: 9789814411790), (2014-04-30).

Kim S., Fornasiero F., Park H.G., In J.B., Meshot E. et al., “Fabrication of flexible, aligned carbon nanotube/polymer composite membranes by in-situ polymerization”, J. Membrane Sci. 460: 91-98 (2014)

Fischer NO, Blanchette CD, Rasley A. “Enhancing the efficacy of innate immune agonists: could nanolipoprotein particles hold the key?” Nanomedicine, 2014, 9:369

Fischer NO, Blanchette CD, Rasley A. “Enhancing the efficacy of innate immune agonists: could nanolipoprotein particles hold the key?” Nanomedicine, 2014, 9:369

Fischer NO, Rasley A, Blanchette CD. “Nanoparticles and antigen delivery: Understanding the benefits and drawbacks of different delivery platforms”. Nanomedicine, 2014, 9:373.

Fischer NO, Weilhammer DR, Dunkle A, Thomas C, Hwang M, Corzett M, Lychak C, Mayer W, Urbin S, Collette N, Chiun Chang J, Loots GG, Rasley A, Blanchette CD. “Evaluation of Nanolipoprotein Particles (NLPs) as an In Vivo Delivery Platform”. PLoS ONE, 2014 9(3):e93342. PMID: 24675794.

Weilhammer DR, Blanchette CD, Fischer NO, Alam S, Loots GG, Corzett M, Thomas C, Lychak, C, Dunkle AD, Ruitenberg JJ, Ghanekar SA, Sant AJ, Rasley A. “Nanolipoprotein delivery enhances immunostimulatory properties of innate immune agonists and provides protection against lethal influenza challenge”. Biomaterials, 2013, 34:10305

He W, Luo J, Bourguet F, Xing L, Yi SK, Gao T, Blanchette CD, Henderson PT, Kuhn E, Malfatti M, Murphy W, Cheng H, Lam K, Coleman MA. “Controlling the diameter, monodispersity and solubility of apoA1 nanolipoprotein particles using telodendrimer chemistry”. Protein Science, 2013, 22:1078.

Chahine NO, Blanchette CD, Thomas CB, Lu J, Haudenschild D, Loots GG. “Effect of age and cytoskeletal elements on the indentation-dependent mechanical properties of chondrocytes”. PLoS ONE, 2013, 8(4) e1651.

Fischer NO, Rasley A, Corzett M, Hwang M, Hoeprich PD, Blanchette CD. “Colocalized delivery of adjuvant and antigen using nanolipoprotein particles enhances the immune response to recombinant antigens”. Journal of American Chemical Society, Communication, 2013, 135:2044.

“Colocalized Delivery of Adjuvant and Antigen Using Nanolipoprotein Particles Enhances the Immune Response to Recombinant Antigens”  Nicholas O. Fischer, Amy Rasley, Michele Corzett, Mona H. Hwang, Paul D. Hoeprich and Craig D. Blanchette (2013) J. Amer. Chem. Soc. 135(6):2044-2047

Xia Long, Yurong Ma, Kang Rae Cho, Dongsheng Li, James J. De Yoreo, Limin Qi, “Oriented calcite micropillars and prisms formed through aggregation and recrystallization of poly(acrylic acid) stabilized nanoparticles”, Cryst. Growth Des., 13, 3856-3863 (2013).

Kang R. Cho, E. Alan Salter, James J. De Yoreo, Andrzej Wierzbicki, Selim Elhadj, Yu Huang, S. Roger Qiu, “Growth inhibition of calcium oxalate monohydrate crystal by linear aspartic acid enantiomers investigated by in situ atomic force microscopy”,

(Inside front cover, Also selected as a Hot Article), CrystEngComm, 15, 54-64 (2013).

Udey, R.N., A.D. Jones, and G.R. Farquar, Aerosol and Microparticle Generation Using a Commercial Inkjet Printer. Aerosol Science and Technology, 2013. 47(4): p. 361-372.

Pedersoli, E., et al., Mesoscale Morphology of Airborne Core-shell Nanoparticle Clusters: X-ray Laser Coherent Diffraction Imaging. Journal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics, 2013. 46(16): p. 164033 (10 pp.)-164033 (10 pp.).

Loh, N.D., et al., Sensing the wavefront of x-ray free-electron lasers using aerosol spheres. Optics Express, 2013. 21(10): p. 12385-12394.

Wheeler, E.K., Baker, B.R., Piggott, W.T., Mabery, S.L., Hara, C.A., DeOtte, J., Benett, W., Mukerjee, E.V., Dzenitis, J., and Beer, N.R. “On-Chip Laser-Induced DNA Dehybridization”.Analyst, 138(13): 3692 (2013). http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/C3AN00288H

Ao resolution in protein 2D-crystal X-ray diffraction at LCLS, B. Pedrini, et al., accepted by Phil. Trans. B., Jan 2014.

Femtosecond X-ray diffraction from Two-dimensional protein crystals, M. Frank, et al., accepted by Internat. Union Crystal. J., Jan 2014.

Toward unsupervised single-shot diffractive imaging of heterogeneous particles using x-ray free-electron lasers, H. J. Park, et al.(57 authors), Optics Exp, 21, 23, 28729-28742, 2013

Mesoscale morphology of airborne core–shell nanoparticle clusters: x-ray laser coherent diffraction imaging, E. Pedersoli, et al.(62 authors), J. Phys. B: Atomic, Mol. and Opt. Phys., 46, 164033, 2013.

Sensing the wavefront of x-ray free-electron lasers using aerosol spheres, N. D. Loh, et al.(57 authors), Optics Exp., 21, 10, 1238512394   DOI:10.1364/OE.21.012385, May 2013.

“Inhomogeneous Diffusion of Copper in NIF Beryllium Ablator Shells”,H. Huang, H. Xu, K. Youngblood, A. Nikoos, K. J. Wu, M. Y. Wang and A. V. Hamza
Fusion Science and Technology63, 190 (2013)

“Characterization of Thin Copper Diffusion Barrier Layer in Beryllium Capsules”,,H. Xu, K. P. Youngblood, H. Huang, K. J. Wu, K. A. Moreno, A. Nikroo, S. J. Shin, Y. M. Wang, A. V. Hamza, Fusion Science and Technology63, 202 (2013)

“Thin Oxide and the Diffusion Barrier in NIF Beryllium Ablator Shells”, K. P. Youngblood, H. Huang, H. Xu, A. Nikoos, K. J. Wu, M. Y. Wang and A. V. Hamza
Fusion Science and Technology63, 208 (2013)

“Coating functional sol-gel films into horizontally rotating cylinders by rimming flow/state”,C. Dawedeit, C. C. Walton, A. A. Chernov, S. H. Kim, M. Worsley, T. Braun, S. A. Gammon, .J H. Satcher, K. J. Wu, A. V. Hamza and J. Biener, J. Sol Gel Sci. Tech., 65, 170 (2013)

“Deterministic Control over High-Z Doping of Polydicyclopentadiene-based Aerogels and Their Coatings”,S. H. Kim, S. J. Shin, M. Lenhardt, T. Braun, J. D. Sain, C. A. Valez, S. O. Kucheyev, K. J. Wu, J. Biener, J. H. Satcher, A. V. Hamza, ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces5 (16), 8111 (2013)