Abstract: A polyelectrolyte-surfactant complex, a method of removing a toxic substance from contaminated soil or contaminated groundwater using a polyelectrolyte-surfactant complex and a method of making a polyelectrolyte-surfactant complex. The polyelectrolyte-surfactant complex is made from a complexated recombinant intrinsically disordered protein that has been electrostatically conjugated to an anionic surfactant to provide enhanced liquid-liquid phase separation properties.

Abstract: A method for transfecting microorganisms comprises inoculating a growth media consisting of at least one of sterile LB media and tryptic soy broth with microorganism cells (cells) consisting of at least one of E.coli (DH5?), C. lytica, or B. subtilus, Pichia pastoris; growing the cells at between 28-40° C. to achieve a desired cell density; harvesting the cells; adding a protein ionic liquid consisting of at least one of green fluorescent protein (GFP), ferritin, rabbit IgG antibodies, and photosystem II from spinach ionic liquid to the cells; suspending the cells in the protein ionic liquid; freezing the suspended cells between ?20 to ?212° C.; and removing at least 99% of water from the frozen suspended cells to make a cell powder. The cell powder may be reconstituted in Tris HCl buffer and mixed to obtain uniform cell suspension; and centrifuged to obtain cell pellet.

Abstract: A method for modifying the properties of balsa wood comprises infiltrating a protein ionic liquid comprising polymerized dopamine into delignified balsa wood. A method of making an optically active protective coating comprises mixing protein ionic liquid comprising polymerized dopamine with ethyl acetate-based or water-based nail polish. A method of making a thermoplastic having biological activity comprises melting a thermoplastic; and blending a protein ionic liquid with the thermoplastic; and cooling the thermoplastic protein ionic liquid blend to a solid state. The thermoplastic is a hot glue stick. The protein ionic liquid comprises antibodies, enzymes, or fluorescent proteins.

Abstract: A method for modifying the properties of balsa wood comprises infiltrating a protein ionic liquid comprising polymerized dopamine into delignified balsa wood. A method of making an optically active protective coating comprises mixing protein ionic liquid comprising polymerized dopamine with ethyl acetate-based or water-based nail polish. A method of making a thermoplastic having biological activity comprises melting a thermoplastic; and blending a protein ionic liquid with the thermoplastic; and cooling the thermoplastic protein ionic liquid blend to a solid state. The thermoplastic is a hot glue stick. The protein ionic liquid comprises antibodies, enzymes, or fluorescent proteins.

Abstract: A method comprising: providing aqueous antibodies; cationizing the aqueous antibodies by the addition of stoichiometric amounts of an excess of a positively-charged crosslinker in the presence of a coupling reagent; titrating the cationized antibodies with a counter anionic polymer until the antibody cation/anion pair solution becomes negative by zeta potential measurement, to create at least one antibody cation/anion pair in aqueous solution. The antibodies are one of anti-hemoglobin antibodies, anti-horse spleen ferritin IgG antibodies, or blood-typing IgM Anti-A antibodies, single-chain antibodies from camelids, monoclonal Anti-Flag antibodies, monoclonal Anti-HRP2 to Plasmodium falciparum, polyclonal Anti-neuropeptide Y, and polyclonal Anti-human troponin. The antibody cation/anion pair solution may be lyophilized to remove all of the water, forming a lyophilized solid, and the lyophilized solid may be heated to generate an antibody ionic liquid.

Abstract: A method of forming a stable protein complex comprising: providing aqueous protein complexes, wherein the protein complexes are one or more of photosystem I complex from spinach, photosystem II complex from spinach, chlorophyll antennae, thylakoids, bacteriochlorophylls, chlorosomes, and photosystems from green algae, cyanobacteria, and plants; cationizing the aqueous protein complexes by the addition of stoichiometric amounts of a crosslinker in the presence of a coupling reagent; titrating the cationized protein complexes with a counter anionic polymer until the protein cation/anion pair solution becomes negative by zeta potential measurement, to create at least one antibody cation/anion pair in aqueous solution. The protein complexes cation/anion pair solution may be lyophilized to remove all of the water, forming a lyophilized solid. The lyophilized solid may be heated until a protein complex ionic liquid is generated.

Abstract: A method for creating a stable protein/antibody ionic liquid, comprising: (a) cationizing aqueous proteins/antibodies by addition of an excess of a positively-charged crosslinker in the presence of a coupling reagent; (b) purifying the cationized proteins/antibodies; (c) titrating the cationized proteins/antibodies with a corresponding biologically-compatible counter anionic polymer to create at least one protein/antibody cation/anion pair in aqueous solution until the cation/anion pair solution becomes negative by zeta potential measurement; (d) repeatedly dialyzing the protein/antibody cation/anion pair in water to remove excess anionic polymer using at least one molecular weight cutoff 7000 dialysis membrane; (e) lyophilizing the protein/antibody cation/anion pair to remove most of the water, forming a lyophilized solid; and (f) heating the lyophilized solid until a protein/antibody ionic liquid is generated. The antibody may be any desired antibody, and the anion may be any biologically-compatible anion.

Abstract: A method comprises the steps of: providing aqueous enzymes, wherein the enzymes are one of BamH1, EcoR1, EcoR2, and EcoRV; titrating the aqueous enzymes with a mixture of small molecule anions to form an enzyme/anion pair solution. Small molecule anions may comprise one or more of D- and L-amino acid esters, small D- and L-peptide pairs, and DL lactate solution. The titrating step is performed until the enzyme/anion pair solution becomes negative by zeta potential measurement. The at least one enzyme/anion pair may be dialyzed to remove excess anionic polymer using a dialysis membrane. The enzyme/anion pair solution is lyophilized to remove all of the water, forming a lyophilized solid of ultra-stable enzymes. Before titration, the positive electrostatic charge of the aqueous enzymes may be confirmed by measuring a positive zeta potential value.

Abstract: A method for creating an antibody ionic liquid, comprising: providing aqueous anti-A, anti-B, or anti-Rh antibodies; cationizing the aqueous antibodies by the addition of stoichiometric amounts of an excess of a positively-charged crosslinker in the presence of a coupling reagent; titrating the cationized antibodies with a counter anionic polymer to create at least one antibody cation/anion pair in aqueous solution until the antibody cation/anion pair solution becomes negative by zeta potential measurement. The method may further comprise lyophilizing the antibody cation/anion pair solution to remove all of the water, forming a lyophilized solid; and heating the lyophilized solid to generate a protein ionic liquid. Cationized antibodies may be purified of excess coupling reagents by dialysis in water by a membrane, and the antibody cation/anion solution may be dialyzed to remove excess anionic polymer with a similar membrane.

Abstract: A method comprising: providing aqueous insulin; titrating the aqueous insulin with a mixture of small molecule anions, e.g. D- and L-amino acid esters, small D- and L-peptide pairs, and DL lactate solution, to form an insulin/anion pair solution. Titrating may be performed until the insulin/anion pair solution becomes negative by zeta potential measurement. The insulin/anion pair solution may be dialyzed to remove excess anionic polymer using a membrane sufficient to separate the insulin/anion pairs from excess small molecule anions. The insulin/anion pair solution may be dialyzed or lyophilized to remove all of the water, forming a solid of ultra-stable insulin. The positive electrostatic charge of the aqueous insulin may be confirmed by measuring a positive zeta potential value.

Abstract: A stable protein ionic liquid, comprising an anti-hemoglobin cation/anion pair. The anti-hemoglobin cation/anion pair may be an anionic polymer of poly(ethylene glycol) 4-nonylphenyl 3-sulfopropyl ether. The anti-hemoglobin cation/anion pair may further comprise a cationized anti-hemoglobin antibody, single-chain antibodies from camelids, antibody fragments, polyclonal Anti-horse spleen ferritin antibodies, monoclonal Anti-Flag antibodies, monoclonal Anti-HRP2 to Plasmodium falciparum, polyclonal Anti-neuropeptide Y, polyclonal Anti-human troponin, isotypes of antibodies, or combinations of multiple antibodies.

Abstract: A method for creating a stable protein/antibody ionic liquid, comprising: (a) cationizing aqueous proteins/antibodies by addition of an excess of a positively-charged crosslinker in the presence of a coupling reagent; (b) purifying the cationized proteins/antibodies; (c) titrating the cationized proteins/antibodies with a corresponding biologically-compatible counter anionic polymer to create at least one protein/antibody cation/anion pair in aqueous solution until the cation/anion pair solution becomes negative by zeta potential measurement; (d) repeatedly dialyzing the protein/antibody cation/anion pair in water to remove excess anionic polymer using at least one molecular weight cutoff 7000 dialysis membrane; (e) lyophilizing the protein/antibody cation/anion pair to remove most of the water, forming a lyophilized solid; and (f) heating the lyophilized solid until a protein/antibody ionic liquid is generated. The antibody may be any desired antibody, and the anion may be any biologically-compatible anion.

Abstract: Reactive nanocomposites comprising a metal nanoparticle functionalized with one or more layers of self-assembled protein cages and methods of making the same. The reactive nanocomposites according to the present invention demonstrate improved reaction kinetics and enhanced exothermic behavior.

Abstract: A biomarker sensor using short peptide recognition elements. The biomarker sensor includes a substrate and a metallic layer on a surface of that substrate that is localized surface plasmon resonance reactive. A receptor layer on the surface of the metallic layer (the surface opposing the substrate) is configured to selectively bind a biomarker and has a thickness less than about 15 nm.

Abstract: Reactive nanocomposites comprising a metal nanoparticle functionalized with one or more layers of self-assembled protein cages and methods of making the same. The reactive nanocomposites according to the present invention demonstrate improved reaction kinetics and enhanced exothermic behavior.

Abstract: A method of forming a biocidal halogenated organic/inorganic composite material may include providing at least one inorganic precursor, providing at least one organic agent, precipitating an organic/inorganic composite material by contacting the at least one inorganic precursor with the at least one organic agent, and halogenating the organic/inorganic composite material by contacting the organic/inorganic composite material with a halogen. Also, a halogenated organic/inorganic composite material may include an inorganic composition comprising a metal oxide and a halogenated organic composition. The inorganic composition and the halogenated organic composition are dispersed throughout the composite material.

Abstract: A biosensor that utilizes carbon nanotubes functionalized with a protein sequence. One domain of the multifunctional peptide sequence noncovalently binds to the surface of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), while a second domain of the sequence recognizes and binds to a target molecule. The sequence of the peptide may be tailored to allow it to recognize and bind to specific target molecules, such as chemicals, biological materials, and explosives. The binding of the target molecule to the peptide may alter a material property of the SWNTs.

Abstract: Nanocomposites of repeat sequence protein polymers and phyllosilicates demonstrated improved material properties, for example, improved elasticity, and are useful as suture, tissue scaffolding, and biodegradable composite materials.

Abstract: An improved method for enriched chirality of single wall carbon nanotubes is described. Genomic DNA, particularly salmon DNA (SaDNA) is shown to sort out single wall carbon nanotubes of specific chirality by a process of solubilization (dissolving in solution) and separation (such as centrifuging), without requiring more complex processes such as anion exchange chromatography. A possible reason for enhanced chirality separation using DNA may be attributed to its lowered GC (guanine-cytosine) content.

Abstract: A one-part, pressure activated chemiluminescent material is disclosed. The free-flowing powder is made by coating microcapsules, filled with a solvent and dye, with a powdered oxalate and a solid source for hydrogen peroxide. The reaction begins when the capsules are crushed, releasing the solvent, which dissolves the oxalate and the source for hydrogen peroxide. The resulting reaction transfers energy to the dye, which produces light.