Our research interests lie in understanding molecular-level phenomena governing complex biological processes and material science problems using theory and computer simulation techniques.

Current Focus

  • Polymers and Nanomaterials

    We use computer simulations and theory to study the phase behavior of functionalized particles in a solvent or a polymer matrix, specifically for the design of metamaterials and organic photovoltaics.

    Functionalized Nanoparticles

    Recent Papers in the Area

    6. A. Jayaraman* and N. Nair,'Integrating PRISM theory and Monte Carlo simulations for studying polymer functionalized particles and polymer nanocomposi tes' submitted to Molecular Simulations special issue on New Developments in Molecular Simulations

    5. P. Dodd^, A. Jayaraman*,'Monte Carlo Simulations of Polydisperse Polymers Grafted on Spherical Surfaces' J. Polymer Science B: Polymer Physics in press (2012)
    link to the article

    4. T.Martin, A.Seifpour and A. Jayaraman*,'Assembly of copolymer functionalized nanoparticles: A Monte Carlo simulation study.' Soft Matter 2011 link to the article

    3. N. Nair, N. Wentzel and A. Jayaraman*,'Effects of polydispersity on Potential of Mean Force between Functionalized Nanoparticles in a Homopolymer Mat rix: Self-Consistent PRISM Theory-Monte Carlo Simulation Study'J. Chem Phys 134, 194906 (2011) link to the article

    2. N. Nair and A. Jayaraman*,'Self-Consistent PRISM Theory-Monte Carlo Simulation Studies of Copolymer Grafted Nanoparticles in a Homopolymer Matrix' Macromolecules 43 (19), pp 8251.8263 (2010) link to the article

    1. A. Seifpour, P. Spicer, N. Nair, A. Jayaraman*,'Effect of monomer sequences on conformations of copolymers grafted on spherical nanoparticles: A Mont e Carlo simulation study' J. Chem. Phys. 132, 164901 (2010). link to the article

    Organic Photovoltaic

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    Our Papers in the Area

    1. C. Starbird#, D. Zhang#, A. Jayaraman*,'Understanding the effect of nanoscale spherical additives on morphology and phase transitions in rod-coil dib lock copolymers' submitted

    Current members involved in this thrust: Arezou Seifpour (assembly of functionalized nanoparticles), Brandon Lin and Paul Dodd (functionalized particles),Charles Starbird and Hilary Marsh (polymers for photovoltaics)

    Experimental Collaborator: (Functionalized Nanoparticles for Metamaterials) Dr. Won Park, University of Colorado-Boulder

    Experimental Collaborator: (Functionalized Nanoparticles in Polymer Nanocomposites) Dr. Ramanan Krishnamoorti, University of Houston

    Experimental Collaborator: (Organic PV) Dr. Garry Rumbles, NREL

  • Non-viral Gene Delivery

    Gene therapy is the deliberate introduction of therapeutic DNA into target cells, a process called transfection. Viral delivery agents, while effective at transfection, can elicit dangerous immunogenic responses. Non-viral gene delivery agents, on the other hand, are not as effective at transfection as viral vectors, but have the advantage of being non-immunogenic. Polycations have emerged as promising non-viral delivery agents due to their propensity to bind the polyanionic DNA backbone, neutralizing the charge of the polymer-DNA complex and facilitating endocytosis. Numerous polycations with differing efficacies have been synthesized, but structure-function relationships for these transfection agents are not yet apparent. In one project, we use simulations to reveal the molecular-level interactions in polycation-DNA complexes and elucidate the thermodynamics behind why some polycations are better transfection agents than others. In another project, we use simulations to design multivalent ligands for plasmid-DNA purification, in order to produce pure plasmid DNA for gene therapy.

    Our Papers in the Area

    1. R. Elder, T. Emrick, and A. Jayaraman*,'Understanding the effect of poly lysine architecture on DNA binding using molecular dynamics simulations' Biomacromolecules (2011)
    link to the article

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    Current members involved in this project:Robert Elder (gene delivery), Alex Van Fosson (bioseparations) and Xiao Ba (bioseparations)

    Experimental Collaborator: (non-viral gene delivery) Dr. Todd Emrick, U Mass Amherst

    Experimental Collaborator: (multivalent ligand design for bioseparations) Dr. Kaushal Rege, Arizona State

  • DNA damage- recognition and repair:

    Nanomaterials, such as titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes produce reactive oxygen species upon exposure to UV radiation, and cause DNA damage in living things. High rates of cancer are associated with the diminished capacity of the cells to repair the DNA damage. Ironically, the drugs that are used to treat cancer are designed to damage the DNA in order to inhibit continuous cell growth. Concurrently, increased repair of DNA damage caused by an anti-cancer drug can lead to tumor resistance to that drug. It is thus important to develop a better understanding of the cell's ability to repair DNA damage, not only to prevent malignancy, but also to avoid development of tumor resistance to current cancer therapies. Our research involves molecular simulation studies of protein-DNA complexes: 1) to explain how DNA structure, solvent and electrostatics influence the ability of repair proteins to recognize and repair DNA damage sites, and 2) to study the role of repair proteins in the development of tumor resistance to anti-cancer drugs.

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    Personnel involved in this project:Robert Elder (Drug induced DNA damage)

    Our Recent Papers in the Area

    1. R. Elder and A. Jayaraman*,'Role of Conformational Dynamics of DNA with Cisplatin and Oxaliplatin Adducts in Various Sequence Contexts on Binding of HMGB1a Protein: a Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study 'Molecular Simulation in press (2012)
    link to the article

    2. R. Elder and A. Jayaraman*,'Sequence-specific recognition of cancer drug-DNA adducts by HMGB1a repair protein' Biophys J. Volume 102, Issue 10, Pages 2331.2338 (2012)
    link to the article


Methods we use to conduct these studies

We use statistical thermodynamics, computer simulations and theory to study the problems stated above. Here is some background reading that describe these tools. We are grateful to the following sources for funding our research:

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