BioNanomaterials Group

Chemical-threat-responsive CNT membranes

Several military and civilian settings require the use of protective clothing to shield the individuals from chemical agents and biological hazards. Wearing conventional protective equipments in these conditions restricts body evaporative heat loss with the risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. To address this problem, we are developing highly-breathable responsive membranes having a-few-nm wide vertically-aligned carbon nanotubes as only through pores. Because of the small pore sizes, these membranes provide an effective barrier against biological threats. To protect from chemical warfare agents (CWA), we are developing CWA-responsive surface-coatings that sense and block the transport of CWAs through the pores upon threat exposure, or exfoliate upon reaction with CWAs.
Watch Smart uniform concept animation
Read LLNL news release on CNT military apparel

Chemical-threat-responsive CNT membranes

Tracking aerosol airflow patterns - DNATrax

DNATrax, a 2013 R&D 100 Award winning technology, is a safe and versatile material containing food-based microparticles that can be used for the safe and effective detection and tracking of aerosol releases in both interior and exterior environments. By combining FDA-approved sugars, and a unique non-biological DNA bar code, a microparticle that simulates the aerosols compromising the air around us was produced. DNATrax will enable pollutant identification and empower customers to improve indoor air quality.

Read LLNL DNATrax S&TR article

Tracking aerosol airflow patterns - DNATrax

Read LLNL DNATrax S&TR article

Nanolipoprotein particles deliver antigens and adjuvants needed to create vaccines against infectious diseases

The NLP research represents an example of our focused efforts in biosecurity, which remains a pressing national concern. We are developing NLP technology as a medical countermeasure to biological threats. These novel particles have moved from acting as surrogates for cell membranes to being possible vehicles for vaccines that can be stored at room temperature, rehydrated, and injected or perhaps even inhaled directly when needed. Most importantly, NLPs may provide a suitable approach to quickly fabricate and deliver vaccines to protect against some of the most recalcitrant infectious diseases facing humankind.
See LLNL S&TR article on NLP Technology

Nanolipoprotein particles deliver antigens and adjuvants needed to create vaccines against infectious diseases

Elemental and molecular imaging

Development of high resolution imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) to visualize the chemical spatial distribution: elemental compositions, biomarker, metabolites. A fully integrated multivariate analysis of IMS data allows us to perform hyperspectral visualization of complex imaging data set obtained from biological samples. Profiling and IMS have been used to characterize multiple biological systems. We have successfully demonstrated differentiation of cancer cell types and separation of benign from malignant biopsy tissues.

Elemental and molecular imaging

Point-of-Care Diagnostics for Infectious Disease Detection

We are developing a mobile phone platform for genomic disease detection for diagnosis of TB and associated drug resistance.
High-performance computing was used to explore structure-based inhibitor design against multiple members of the target protein family. This helped to focus development efforts and to minimize costly wet-lab expenditures, such as drug synthesis.

Point-of-Care Diagnostics for Infectious Disease Detection

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 & Medicine, Chapter 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, 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). doi: 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 Technology, 63, 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 Technology, 63, 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 Technology, 63, 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. Interfaces, 5 (16), 8111 (2013)