Molecular Modeling

molecular_modelingMolecular modelling is having an increasing  role in Life Sciences. Modelling to understand the molecular behaviour of life’s building blocks dictate the need to simultaneously integrate this approach in knowledge, education, training and manufacturing. Synthetic biology - the redesign of biological molecules, structures and organisms - potentially is one of the most powerful emerging technologies today. The modification of biological structures has already been pursued for a variety of nanotechnological objectives; but biomimetic attitude could provide the tools and understanding needed to develop bionanotechnology in a more systematic way. The possibility to create new materials and systems is strictly related to the comprehension  of the construction rules of living organisms. In particular our research activity deal with molecular dynamics simulations of cytoskeleton proteins (such as tubulins, motor proteins -actin-myosin complex, kinesins-, spectrins, etc.) and AFM-like virtual experiments on ECM proteins (such as type I collagen molecule and glycosaminoglycan) both in physiologic and pathologic conditions. Moreover, we apply these nanoscale tools to the design of biosynthetic membranes in terms of their transport properties.  The strategy envisioned is to fish for interesting new materials arranged in complex natural solutions and to understand the ‘language of shape’. This understanding is of paramount importance for the efficient development of the ‘engineering of molecules’.

 

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Research
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tissue engineeringmicro-bio-fluidynamicscardiovascular modeling