US-Mexico Cooperative Research: Plasma Assisted Enzyme Immobilization

University Of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison WI

Investigators

Abstract

9908696 Young This US-Mexico award will support Prof. Raymond A. Young of the University of Wisconsin-Madison in a research collaboration with Dr. Juan Ramos of the University of Guadalajara, Mexico, to work on the use of cold plasmas to modify common polymer surfaces and to use such surfaces for enzyme immobilization. Preliminary studies in the area of enzyme immobilization reactions from cold-plasma substrates demonstrate the viability of a cold-plasma approach for the development of advanced molecular recognition and machining technologies, useful in the biotech industry among others. These interdisciplinary efforts may play a significant role in the advanced technologies of the 21st century. The proposed research blends complementary skills on both sides in research of mutual benefit: the Mexican side providing a strong background in plasma chemistry and in the modification and characterization of natural polymers, while the group at the University of Wisconsin Center for Plasma-Aided Manufacturing and the Department of Forestry, has extensive experience and facilities in the area of surface modification of natural and synthetic polymeric substrates.