"Understanding Biomaterials using Ultrafast Two- Dimensional Infrared Spectroscopy (2D-IR)"

The research focuses on the elucidation of the underlying physical principles and operation mechanisms of biological molecules is key for a full understanding and exploitation of such interactions. The close relationship between the structure and function of biological molecules and, as with any complex problem, a suite of experimental approaches is required in order to extract as much information as possible from a given system. This proposal will explore the use ultrafast of Two-dimensional infrared spectrometer (2D-IR) (a nonlinear infrared spectroscopy) to examine the relationship between structure and function of molecules. In particular the project will explore the use of this approach to investigate the subtle rearrangements and hydrogen bonding and there dynamics. This project will study three main important classes of biological molecules, keratin and Keratin associated proteins (KAP's), important ubiquitous natural structural proteins, the barrier glycoprotein Mucin a class of molecules very difficult to study by most 'normal' methods and classes of carbohydrates important in food and ice cream structuring which pose similar problems to glycoproteins.